Follow UsIn a major development in Pakistan cricket team, captain Mohammad Rizwan and senior batter Babar Azam have been dropped from the upcoming T20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand. Salman Agha, who was Rizwan's deputy in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, has been elevated to the captaincy role, while Shadab Khan has been named vice-captain.
Rizwan will continue to lead Pakistan in One-Day Internationals (ODI) despite their group-stage exit at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home. Babar, too, will play the ODIs against New Zealand, but there is no place for Shaheen Afridi in the 50-over format.
Pakistan have retained fast bowlers Afridi and Haris Rauf in T20Is while Naseem Shah has only been picked for the ODIs.. Mohammad Haris, who played his last T20I in 2023, returns, while Saim Ayub continues to be on the sidelines as he is recovering from an ankle injury.
Left-arm fast bowler Akif Javed has earned his maiden ODI call-up.
However, head coach Aaqib Javed refused to rule out Rizwan's return as T20I captain. Under his captaincy, Pakistan have lost all five T20Is. Agha led Pakistan against Zimbabwe, a series, which his side won 2-1 in Rizwan's absence.
This move potentially suggests that Pakistan want to move away from the Babar-Rizwan combination at the top. A 22-year-old wicketkeeper Hasan Nawaz, who is yet to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) received his maiden call-up and so did batters Abdul Samad and Omair Yousuf.
Pakistan are scheduled to play five Twenty20Is against New Zealand starting March 16, followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODI).
Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is: Hassan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (c), Irfan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyaan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan squad for New Zealand ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.