Pakistan Announce Squads for New Zealand Tour: Salman Ali Agha Appointed T20I Captaincy, Rizwan Retains ODI Leadership

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Pakistan Tour of New Zealand Squads: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled the much-anticipated squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand, marking a shift in leadership and fresh faces in the national setup.

Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the T20I captain, with Shadab Khan serving as his deputy, while Mohammad Rizwan continues to lead the ODI squad.

This tour, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs from 16 March to 5 April, will be a crucial stepping stone for Pakistan as they gear up for major ICC events, including the ACC Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Meanwhile, Rizwan remains at the helm in ODIs as Pakistan eyes the ICC Men's 50-over Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

A New Chapter in Pakistan’s T20I Leadership

The T20I squad sees a significant shake-up, with Salman Ali Agha taking over from Rizwan, who had endured a rough stint as skipper. His leadership tenure saw Pakistan falter, prompting the PCB to look ahead with an eye on the future. Shadab Khan, returning from injury, will provide support as vice-captain.

The squad includes three uncapped players—Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali—who have been rewarded for their stellar domestic performances. Abdul Samad, a hard-hitting batter, and Hasan Nawaz, a promising wicketkeeper-batsman, were standout performers in the Champions T20 Cup, while Mohammad Ali emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps.

T20I Squad for the New Zealand Tour:

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.

Notably absent from the squad are Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who were not considered due to injuries but are expected to be fit in time for HBL PSL 10 in April.

Rizwan Holds Fort in ODIs, Shaheen Afridi Dropped

While T20I leadership undergoes a revamp, the ODI squad remains relatively stable. Mohammad Rizwan continues as Pakistan’s ODI captain, with Salman Ali Agha as his deputy. However, one major exclusion has caught the cricketing world by surprise—Shaheen Shah Afridi has been left out of the squad.

ODI Squad for the New Zealand Tour:

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 squad after the completion of the T20I series.

Coaching Staff & Support Personnel

Aqib Javed, who was initially appointed as interim head coach until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, will extend his tenure for the New Zealand series. Former Pakistan great Mohammad Yousuf joins the setup as the batting coach. The coaching staff also includes:

• Azhar Mahmood (Assistant Coach)
• Mohammad Masroor (Fielding Coach)
• Cliffe Deacon (Physiotherapist)
• Drikus Saiman (Strength & Conditioning Coach)

Tour Schedule

T20I Series:

• 16 March – 1st T20I, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
• 18 March – 2nd T20I, University Oval, Dunedin
• 21 March – 3rd T20I, Eden Park, Auckland
• 23 March – 4th T20I, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
• 26 March – 5th T20I, Sky Stadium, Wellington

ODI Series:

• 29 March – 1st ODI, McLean Park, Napier
• 2 April – 2nd ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton
• 5 April – 3rd ODI, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

Salman Ali Agha’s appointment as T20I captain also suggests that Pakistan is willing to invest in a new leader for the long haul. With two ICC events on the horizon, this is a litmus test for Salman’s leadership credentials.

Meanwhile, Rizwan's ODI captaincy remains intact, but the exclusion of Shaheen Shah Afridi has raised eyebrows. The left-arm pacer was Pakistan’s best bowler in their recent ODI series wins in South Africa and Australia, making his omission a surprising one. However, Pakistan’s pace battery still looks strong with the likes of Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Akif Javed in the mix.

With a young, dynamic squad, Pakistan will be hoping to put up a strong fight against New Zealand and lay a solid foundation for upcoming global tournaments. All eyes will be on Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan, as they take on their respective leadership roles in what promises to be an exciting tour.