Salman Agha is set to captain Pakistan’s T20 International team for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand. Notably, prominent white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan and former T20I top-ranked batsman Babar Azam have been omitted from the squad. Furthermore, Shaheen Afridi will be absent from the ODI team. Despite recent underwhelming performances in the tri-series and Champions Trophy, Rizwan will remain the ODI captain for the multi-format tour, with Agha serving as his deputy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to appoint Agha as T20I captain reflects a forward-looking strategy, with an eye on the Asia Cup in September 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India the following year. Agha has prior captaincy experience, having led Pakistan against Zimbabwe last year in a series they won 2-1. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who last featured in the T20 format for Pakistan at the previous Men’s T20 World Cup, makes a comeback to the team and has been named vice-captain.
In a move to acknowledge strong domestic performances, Pakistan has included three uncapped players in the T20I squad: Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali. Samad impressed with 115 runs at a strike rate of 166.67 in the Champions T20 Cup, while Nawaz was the competition’s second-highest scorer with 312 runs. Ali emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming 22 wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi also returns to the T20I fold after missing the South Africa series in December.
Mohammad Ali has also earned a call-up to the ODI squad, along with uncapped Akif Javed. Javed took seven wickets in five matches during the Champions ODI Cup.
Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were not considered for selection due to medical reasons. Zaman is still recovering from a muscle strain sustained during Pakistan’s Champions Trophy opener, and Ayub is sidelined with an ankle fracture suffered during a Test match against South Africa in January. An additional batter or wicketkeeper will be added to the ODI squad after the T20I series concludes.
Pakistan is scheduled to play five T20Is and three ODIs against New Zealand between March 16th and April 5th.
On the coaching front, interim head coach Aqib Javed will continue in his role for this series, despite his initial term concluding after the Champions Trophy. Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as Pakistan’s batting coach.
Pakistan Squads for New Zealand Tour
T20I Squad: 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, Usman Khan
ODI Squad: 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, Tayyab Tahir.
(A wicketkeeper/batter will be added to the ODI squad following the T20Is)
