Pakistan’s newly appointed T20I captain Salman Ali Agha leads a young squad against New Zealand after the Champions Trophy 2025. The squad features three uncapped players and aims to showcase their talent. Despite injuries, Agha remains confident in the team’s preparations. The series consists of five T20Is and three ODIs, with schedules announced.
Following a disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan is set to tour New Zealand for a series featuring five T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs). The young T20I squad will be led by newly appointed captain Salman Ali Agha, as the team prepares for crucial tournaments, such as the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup scheduled for later this year.
Pakistan will face challenges with the absence of injured players Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman. However, three uncapped players—Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali—are included in the squad, following their impressive performances in domestic competitions.
Salman Ali Agha expressed optimism about the upcoming series, noting the inclusion of young talents who have the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities on the international stage. He stated, “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” – PCB. Agha, who recently led Pakistan to a 2-1 series victory against Zimbabwe, is confident about the team’s preparations.
Historically, Pakistan has an advantage in the T20I head-to-head matches against New Zealand, with 23 wins out of 44 encounters. The prior T20I series in 2024 ended in a draw, emphasizing the competitive nature of their meetings.
The T20I squad comprises:
– 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
– Usman Khan.
The ODI squad includes:
– 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
– Tayyab Tahir.
The series schedule is as follows:
– 1st T20I: 16 March, Christchurch
– 2nd T20I: 18 March, Dunedin
– 3rd T20I: 21 March, Auckland
– 4th T20I: 23 March, Mount Maunganui
– 5th T20I: 26 March, Wellington
– 1st ODI: 29 March, Napier
– 2nd ODI: 2 April, Hamilton
– 3rd ODI: 5 April, Mount Maunganui.
In summary, Pakistan’s upcoming tour of New Zealand represents a significant opportunity for the young T20I squad under the new captaincy of Salman Ali Agha. Despite facing challenges with key players injured, the inclusion of talented newcomers sets a promising tone for the series. With historical advantages and preparations in place, the team aims to deliver commendable performances in the T20I and ODI formats.
Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com
