Salman Ali Agha is determined to lead Pakistan to a resurgence following their underwhelming performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
As the team gears up for a crucial year in international cricket, all eyes are on Agha, who will captain Pakistan in their upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand, which includes five T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals.
The disappointment of the Champions Trophy has prompted Pakistan to make strategic changes, with the selectors opting for a youthful T20I squad. Agha, entrusted with the leadership role, will aim to inject fresh energy into the team ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. With the Asia Cup also on the horizon later this year, Pakistan’s performances in New Zealand will be crucial in building momentum.
Pakistan will be missing key players Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman due to injuries. However, the squad welcomes three uncapped players—Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali—who have been rewarded for their outstanding domestic performances. This tour presents an invaluable opportunity for them to gain experience at the highest level, and Agha is keen to ensure they integrate well into the team.
Speaking about the squad’s composition, Agha emphasized the importance of providing young talent with an international platform. “We have some young players in the side, and it is an opportunity for them to showcase their talent at the international level after performing well in domestic cricket,” Agha said, as per PCB’s official statement.
Agha, who led Pakistan to a 2-1 series victory against Zimbabwe in his debut series as captain, remains optimistic about the upcoming tour. “The team’s preparations are going well, and we will try to produce better results in New Zealand,” he asserted.
Historically, Pakistan have maintained a slight edge over New Zealand in T20Is, winning 23 out of 44 encounters. Their last T20I series, played in 2024 just before the T20 World Cup, ended in a 2-2 draw, setting the stage for another competitive battle between the two sides.
With Agha at the helm, Pakistan will aim to fine-tune their strategies and improve their overall performance. The leadership of Agha will be instrumental in ensuring that Pakistan regains its footing on the international stage as they embark on this challenging tour.
T20I Squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan, 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 (c), Salman Ali 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.
New Zealand v Pakistan – Schedule
T20I Series:
1st T20I – 16 March, Christchurch
2nd T20I – 18 March, Dunedin
3rd T20I – 21 March, Auckland
4th T20I – 23 March, Mount Maunganui
5th T20I – 26 March, Wellington
ODI Series:
1st ODI – 29 March, Napier
2nd ODI – 2 April, Hamilton
3rd ODI – 5 April, Mount Maunganui