The Pakistan cricket team has arrived in Christchurch to start a new chapter after their Champions Trophy 2025 debacle. They will play five T20Is and three ODIs against New Zealand, featuring new captain Salman Agha and vice-captain Shadab Khan. The squad incorporates three uncapped players. Pakistan’s broader goals include preparing for major tournaments scheduled for 2025 and 2026.
The Pakistan cricket team has recently arrived in Christchurch to initiate a new chapter following their disappointing performance at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Their scheduled T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on March 16, includes five T20I matches and three ODIs during their three-week tour. This series marks Pakistan’s first engagement in white-ball matches following their failure to secure a victory in the Champions Trophy, where they faced defeats against New Zealand and India, and their last match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Under the captaincy of Salman Agha and vice-captain Shadab Khan, the T20I squad features three uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali, stepping into the squad amid the absence of senior players such as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. In contrast, Rizwan will maintain his role as the ODI captain, with Agha serving as his deputy during the three scheduled ODIs at the end of the tour from March 29 to April 5.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced this leadership decision with forward-looking aspirations toward the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Salman Agha previously captained the Pakistani side in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, leading them to a 2-1 victory. In preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Pakistan plans to engage in a minimum of five T20Is during the ACC Asia Cup and additional series against various teams from May to January 2026.
In the longer term, Rizwan will also continue to steer the ODI team towards the ICC Men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2027, scheduled for October and November in Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Aqib Javed remains the interim head coach for the New Zealand tour, with his term extending as the Pakistan Cricket Board searches for a permanent coach. Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as batting coach.
The T20I squad includes Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousaf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan. The ODI squad features Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim, and Tayyab Tahir.
In conclusion, the Pakistan cricket team is set to embark on a crucial tour of New Zealand, aiming to rebuild their momentum following an unsatisfactory performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With new leadership and a host of uncapped players, they will focus on upcoming tournaments while eyeing future World Cups. The interim coaching staff remains in place as they seek to regain their competitive edge in international cricket.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
