Babar Azam, Haris Rauf among Five Pakistan Stars likely to miss out New Zealand Series

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After a disastrous Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, Pakistan cricket is likely to undergo a few radical changes.

Despite the huge expectations, the Pakistan boys faltered at the big stage. They lost both of their first two matches and sealed their early exit, while the final group stage encounter against Bangladesh got washed out.

Pakistan, who were also the defending champions in the tournament, ended their CT 2025 campaign at the bottom of the table and without a win. Amid this, their next assignment is down under against New Zealand.

The fans across Pakistan want fresh ideas. And they are likely to get their wish this time as a few of the settled stars in the team may miss out.

According to a Cricket Pakistan report, some of the team's biggest names, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, might be dropped due to their poor performances in the tournament. To avoid the embarrassment of being axed, these players are reportedly considering skipping the New Zealand tour altogether.

Babar Azam, Pakistan's star batter, managed a fifty in one of the games, but his slow strike rate didn't match the demands of the situation. Meanwhile, the much-talked-about pace trio of Shaheen, Naseem, and Haris failed to deliver when it mattered most.

Apart from that, Faheem Ashraf may also be left out. Fakhar Zaman, who was also named in Champions Trophy squad, got ruled out of the tournament with an injury and is set to remain at the sidelines.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 and the 50-over World Cup 2027 in mind, Pakistan is likely to use the New Zealand tour as an opportunity to test young talent and rebuild the squad. Furthermore, PCB is poised to sack the entire coaching staff of Pakistan team as well.

Pakistan's New Zealand Tour 2025 Schedule

T20I Series

1st T20I - March 16, Christchurch

2nd T20I - March 18, Dunedin

3rd T20I - March 21, Hamilton

4th T20I - March 24, Auckland

5th T20I - March 26, Wellington

ODI Series

1st ODI - March 29, Wellington

2nd ODI - April 1, Napier

3rd ODI - April 5, Mount Maunganui