Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan OUT, New Pakistan captain announced for New Zealand T20Is
After the horrible outing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan National Cricket Team will now be locking horns with New Zealand in the T20I as well as the ODI series, which will be played from 16th March to 5th April.
Pakistan will be touring New Zealand for five T20is and three ODIs. At first, the T20Is will be played from 16th March to 26th March. Following that, three ODIs are scheduled to take from 29th March to 5th April across the three different venues.
As per the reports in local media and A Sports, it is learned that the Pakistan National Cricket Team won't be picking senior players in Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Rizwan, and Haris Rauf, and some young players are all set to get the nod ahead.
Some sections of the reports claimed that all the senior players in Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Rizwan, and Haris Rauf have opted for rest. They have expressed their desire to not play in the tour. But some other sections of reports say they are all set to be dropped.
Former cricketer Rashid Latif, who is close to the developments in Pakistan cricketers, has suggested that young players Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, Abdul Samad and Akif Javed, Muhammad Nafay are under consideration to be picked for the squad.
Rashid Latif also mentioned that Shadab Khan will be captaining the team in T20Is. Along with him, Muhammad Haris, Sufyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas, Irfan Khan Niazi, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Agha Salman, Abrar Ahmed, Umair bin Yousuf and Khush dil shah are all set to be picked.
Pakistan likely squad for the New Zealand T20IS
Shadab Khan (c), Muhammad Haris, Sufyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas, Irfan Khan Niazi, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Agha Salman, Abrar Ahmed, Umair bin Yousuf and Khush dil, Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, Abdul Samad and Akif Javed, Muhammad Nafay