In a significant team reshuffle, Pakistan has dropped Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam from their T20 squad for the upcoming New Zealand series. Salman Ali Agha will lead the T20 side, with Shadab Khan serving as vice-captain.
Rizwan remains the ODI captain despite Pakistan’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy. The selectors have made minimal changes to the one-day squad, keeping most players from the ICC event.
While Babar retains his place in the ODI squad, Saud Shakil and Kamran Ghulam have been removed. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf have also been left out of the one-day team.
The tour of New Zealand, beginning March 16, consists of five T20s and three ODIs.
Pakistan face additional challenges as opener Saim Ayub remains unavailable due to an ankle injury sustained during the Test series in South Africa earlier this year.
The team will also miss Fakhar Zaman, who injured himself in the Champions Trophy’s opening match. Zaman’s injury occurred shortly after his return to the national team in last month’s tri-nation tournament.
The series marks a new phase for Pakistan cricket with significant changes in team composition and leadership structure.
Pakistan squads:
ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (VC), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam Faheem Ashraf, Imam ul Haq, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Wasim junior, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah Sufyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.
T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (VC), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Muqeem, Usman Khan.
