Pakistan Announces T20I, ODI Squads for Upcoming New Zealand Tour

Photo : AP

Pakistan’s head cricket coach, Aqib Javed, has announced the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, as reported by ARY News. Mohammad Rizwan, a wicketkeeping batter, will captain the ODI side, with allrounder Salman Agha named as the vice-captain. Abdullah Shafique makes his return to the ODI team alongside Mohammad Wasim Jr., who last played in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

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The full squad for the ODIs includes key players such as Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Irfan Khan Niazi, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Mohammad Ali, Sufyan Muqim, and Naseem Shah.

For the T20Is, Salman Agha will lead the team, with Shadab Khan returning as the vice-captain. The T20I squad includes three uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali. Pacers Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali have yet to play in an ODI match.

Coach Aqib Javed explained that the change in leadership, particularly for the T20I squad, was made with a focus on upcoming major tournaments, including the T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2026.

Mohammad Rizwan will lead the ODI squad, with Salman Agha as vice-captain, and the T20I squad will be led by Salman Agha with Shadab Khan as the vice-captain. Both squads have a mixture of experienced and new players as they prepare for the challenges of the New Zealand tour. Additionally, a wicketkeeping batter will be added to the ODI squad following the T20I series. This announcement marks an important step as Pakistan looks forward to the challenges ahead in New Zealand and prepares for major cricket events in the coming years.