Salman Agha to Lead Young Pakistan Squad in T20I Series Against New Zealand
Pakistan’s new T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha, will lead a young squad in a five T20I and three ODI series against New Zealand. Key players Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman are sidelined by injury, while Agha emphasizes the opportunity for young talent to showcase their skills. The match schedule spans from March 16 to April 5, 2025.
Pakistan’s new T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha, is set to lead a youthful squad in a challenging white-ball tour of New Zealand, comprising five T20 International matches and three One-Day Internationals. Following Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy, they aim to regain momentum with fresh talent ahead of the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup later this year.
With notable absences including Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman due to injuries, the squad features three uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali. These players received national call-ups after showcasing impressive performances in recent domestic competitions. Agha emphasized the significance of this opportunity, stating, “We have some young players in the side, and it is an opportunity for them to showcase their talent at the international level after performing well in domestic cricket.”
Under Agha’s leadership, Pakistan previously secured a 2-1 series win against Zimbabwe, reflecting his confidence going into the New Zealand tour. He remarked, “The team’s preparations are going well, and we will try to produce better results in New Zealand.” Historically, Pakistan has the upper hand in T20I encounters with New Zealand, boasting 23 victories to New Zealand’s 19. The last T20I series between them in 2024 concluded in a balanced 2-2 draw.
The T20I squad includes: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan, 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 consists of: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Tayyab Tahir.
The match schedule is as follows: 1st T20I on 16 March in Christchurch, 2nd T20I on 18 March in Dunedin, 3rd T20I on 21 March in Auckland, 4th T20I on 23 March in Mount Maunganui, and 5th T20I on 26 March in Wellington. The 1st ODI is scheduled for 29 March in Napier, the 2nd ODI on 2 April in Hamilton, and the 3rd ODI on 5 April in Mount Maunganui.
In summary, Pakistan’s upcoming tour to New Zealand represents a pivotal opportunity for their newly appointed T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha, to lead a squad rich in youth and potential. With several uncapped players and strategic preparations, Pakistan aims to overcome recent disappointments and perform commendably in both T20 and ODI formats. The outcomes of these matches will be essential for their preparations for major tournaments later this year.
Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com
