The Pakistan Cricket Board announced squads for the ODI and T20I series against New Zealand, appointing Salman Ali Agha as T20I captain and Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain. The series is set to run from March 16 to April 5, featuring a blend of experienced players and new talents. The PCB is strategically preparing for future international tournaments.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the national squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against New Zealand, which will begin later this month. Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the captain of the T20I team with Shadab Khan serving as vice-captain. The T20I series will consist of five matches scheduled from March 16 to March 26, while Mohammad Rizwan will continue as the ODI captain, with Salman as his deputy for three 50-over matches from March 29 to April 5.
The decision to appoint Salman and Shadab reflects the PCB’s strategy aimed at preparing the team for significant future tournaments, namely the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Salman Ali Agha led the T20I squad against Zimbabwe last year, achieving a 2-1 series victory. As part of their preparations, Pakistan plans to engage in multiple T20I series leading up to the 2026 World Cup.
The squads for the New Zealand tour have been detailed as follows: The T20I squad includes Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), along with players such as Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. In the ODI squad, Mohammad Rizwan (captain) and Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain) are supported by prominent players like Babar Azam and Naseem Shah. Following the T20Is, an additional wicketkeeper-batter will be included in the ODI roster.
The New Zealand tour is scheduled as follows: The first T20I will take place on March 16 at Hagley Oval, followed by matches in Dunedin and Auckland. The ODI series will commence on March 29 in Napier, concluding on April 5 in Mount Maunganui. Three uncapped players are included in the T20I squad, while Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali are set to make their debut in ODIs during this tour, rewarded for their performances in domestic competitions.
In summary, the Pakistan Cricket Board has revealed its ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the T20I captain, with plans focusing on future international tournaments. The tour will feature a sequence of T20Is followed by ODIs, providing a platform for both experienced players and newcomers.
Original Source: asianewsnetwork.net
