Pakistan’s cricket team, captained by Salman Ali Agha, is traveling to New Zealand for a series of five T20Is and three ODIs after a poor showing in the Champions Trophy 2025. The squad includes several young players, some adjudged based on domestic performances. Notably, Pakistan has a historical edge over New Zealand in T20Is, with a planned schedule of matches.
Following a lackluster performance in the Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan cricket team is set to embark on a white-ball tour of New Zealand, which includes five T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs). With the T20 World Cup approaching next year and the Asia Cup this year, Pakistan has selected a youthful T20I squad under the leadership of newly appointed captain Salman Ali Agha.
Due to injuries, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman will not participate in the upcoming matches. However, Pakistan has bolstered its lineup with the inclusion of three uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali, all of whom have demonstrated notable performances in recent domestic competitions.
Salman Agha emphasized the importance of the series for the young players, 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,” as reported by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
In his debut series as captain, Agha led Pakistan to a 2-1 victory against Zimbabwe and expressed optimism about the New Zealand tour: “The team’s preparations are going well, and we will try to produce better results in New Zealand.”
Historically, Pakistan holds a slight advantage over New Zealand in T20I matches, winning 23 out of 44 encounters. The previous T20I series between the two teams took place in 2024, concluding in a 2-2 draw.
The squads for both formats are as follows:
T20I Squad: 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.
ODI Squad: 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.
New Zealand v Pakistan Schedule:
– 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 young T20I squad, led by Salman Ali Agha, is set to face New Zealand following a disappointing Champions Trophy appearance. With a mix of experienced players and uncapped talents, the team aims to make a mark ahead of upcoming major tournaments. Agha’s leadership and preparations signify a promising future as they embark on this vital series.
Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com
