Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a significant leadership change, appointing Salman Ali Agha as the T20I captain and Shadab Khan as vice-captain for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled from March 16 to 26. Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan will retain his role as the ODI captain, with Salman Ali Agha acting as his deputy for the three-match ODI series from March 29 to April 5.
This strategic shift comes as Pakistan gears up for two major upcoming tournaments – the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. With these events on the horizon, the PCB has made a bold decision to bring fresh leadership to the shorter format, signaling a new era for Pakistan cricket.
Strategic Shift Towards 2026: A Long-Term Vision
The decision to entrust Salman Ali Agha with the T20I captaincy is a calculated move, considering his leadership during Pakistan’s 2-1 series victory against Zimbabwe last year. His appointment is part of a broader vision to establish a stable core team for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be played in February-March 2026.
Pakistan’s roadmap includes a packed calendar, with at least five T20Is in the ACC Asia Cup 2025 and additional series against West Indies, Afghanistan, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Australia before the marquee event. This provides ample opportunities for the new leadership duo to fine-tune the squad.
Pakistan’s T20I and ODI Squads for New Zealand Tour
T20I Squad:
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
ODI Squad:
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 ODI squad following the T20I series.)
Emerging Talent Gets a Break
Pakistan’s selection committee has rewarded young performers from domestic tournaments, with three uncapped players – Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali – included in the T20I squad. Additionally, Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali, who are yet to debut in ODIs, have been named in the 50-over squad.
- Abdul Samad impressed with 115 runs at a strike rate of 166.67 in the Champions T20 Cup, following a solid Champions One-Day Cup performance.
- Hasan Nawaz finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the Champions T20 Cup, accumulating 312 runs at a strike rate of 142.47.
- Mohammad Ali was the leading wicket-taker in the Champions T20 Cup with 22 scalps.
- Akif Javed earned his ODI call-up after picking up seven wickets in the Champions One-Day Cup and 15 wickets in the Champions T20 Cup.
Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub Ruled Out
The absence of two key openers, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, due to injuries is a major setback. Fakhar suffered a left lower intercostal muscle sprain during Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener, while Saim is recovering from an ankle fracture sustained during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in January. Both players are expected to regain full fitness ahead of the HBL Pakistan Super League 10, starting April 11.
Coaching and Support Staff for New Zealand Tour
Aqib Javed will continue as the interim head coach for the New Zealand tour, extending his role beyond the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 while PCB searches for a permanent coach. Former batting great Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as the batting coach, adding invaluable experience to the team’s preparations.
Key Support Staff:
- Naveed Akram Cheema (Team Manager)
- Aqib Javed (Interim Head Coach)
- Azhar Mahmood (Assistant Coach)
- Mohammad Yousuf (Batting Coach)
- Mohammad Masroor (Fielding Coach)
- Cliffe Deacon (Physiotherapist)
- Drikus Saiman (Strength & Conditioning Coach)
- Talha Butt (Analyst)
- Irtiza Komail (Security Manager)
- Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (Team Doctor)
- Syed Naeem Ahmad (Media & Digital Manager)
- Sergio Basil Mullins (Masseur)
New Zealand Tour Fixtures
T20I Series:
- 16 Mar: 1st T20I – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 18 Mar: 2nd T20I – University Oval, Dunedin
- 21 Mar: 3rd T20I – Eden Park, Auckland
- 23 Mar: 4th T20I – Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
- 26 Mar: 5th T20I – Sky Stadium, Wellington
ODI Series:
- 29 Mar: 1st ODI – McLean Park, Napier
- 2 Apr: 2nd ODI – Seddon Park, Hamilton
- 5 Apr: 3rd ODI – Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
A New Chapter in Pakistan Cricket
The appointment of Salman Ali Agha as T20I captain represents a fresh approach to Pakistan’s white-ball leadership. With young talent stepping up and experienced campaigners providing stability, this new era under Salman and Shadab will be closely watched as Pakistan builds towards the T20 World Cup 2026 and beyond.
As the Men in Green prepare to take on New Zealand, all eyes will be on Salman’s leadership and how he molds the squad into a formidable T20 unit. With a well-balanced squad and a packed schedule leading up to major ICC events, Pakistan’s cricketing future looks promising.
