Pakistan Cricket Team Arrives in New Zealand for T20I Series Amid Rebuilding Phase
The Pakistan cricket team has arrived in Christchurch for a T20I series against New Zealand starting March 16, marking their first white-ball series after a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With Salman Agha as captain and Rizwan leading the ODIs, this tour will help Pakistan rebuild and prepare for upcoming tournaments. Aqib Javed continues as interim head coach, with new players integrated into the squad.
The Pakistan cricket team has recently arrived in Christchurch in preparation for their upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, which commences on March 16. This tour consists of five T20 matches and three One Day Internationals (ODIs) over the span of three weeks. This series marks Pakistan’s first white-ball encounters following a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where the team failed to secure any victories and faced an early tournament exit after losses to New Zealand and India, along with a washed-out match against Bangladesh due to rain.
For the T20I segment, Salman Agha will assume the role of captain, supported by vice-captain Shadab Khan. The squad includes three uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali, who are stepping in due to the absence of senior players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in this format. Conversely, Rizwan will remain as the ODI captain, with Agha acting as his deputy during the three ODIs scheduled from March 29 to April 5.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Salman Agha and Shadab Khan with particular attention to the upcoming ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Salman previously led the T20I squad against Zimbabwe, securing a series victory. Additionally, as a preparation strategy for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan plans to undertake a minimum of five T20 matches during the ACC Asia Cup 2025 and further series against multiple nations throughout 2025 and early 2026.
In the ODIs, Mohammad Rizwan leading the squad will facilitate preparations for the ICC Men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2027. The tournament will be held across Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in October and November 2027. Alongside these developments, Aqib Javed will continue as the interim head coach for the New Zealand tour, while Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as the 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 is comprised of: 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.
The Pakistan cricket team’s arrival in New Zealand signifies a critical phase in rebuilding after their unfavorable performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Led by new captain Salman Agha for T20Is and continuing with Mohammed Rizwan for ODIs, the team aims to undertake a series of matches to prepare for major upcoming tournaments. Appointment of new coaches and selection of uncapped players reflect the strategic changes being implemented as Pakistan transitions towards a more competitive edge in international cricket.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
