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What I’m Looking Out for in Pakistan’s Tour of New Zealand (T20 Format):
1) Salman Agha’s Captaincy:
Salman’s appointment as captain is a curious one for me. He has proven to be a clutch player over the past year, plays selflessly, and excels in all three departments. He also speaks good English and expresses himself eloquently. However, he doesn’t strike me as a natural leader. He isn’t the captain of his PSL team, lacks a strong leadership record in domestic cricket, and doesn’t really display commanding body language in the field or while giving press confrences.
I wish him well and believe he could grow into the role, but he has a lot to prove. Mike Hesson spoke positively about his appointment on his YouTube channel, but I remain skeptical given his lack of leadership experience. To me, it seems like he was made captain simply because he’s the only player guaranteed a spot in the XI from now until the World Cup. That said, I genuinely like Salman and hope he does well.
2) Mohammad Haris and Usman Khan – The Keepers:
While most people will focus on how they bat, I’m more concerned about how they keep. Both have looked shaky behind the stumps and have missed quite a few catches and stumpings over the past year or two.
We all know they can strike at a better rate than Rizwan, but there’s no doubt that Rizwan is the superior wicketkeeper. If either of them wants to cement their place for the World Cup, they need to prove they can keep cleanly while maintaining a strike rate of over 130. There’s no point in striking at 140 if you keep blowing chances behind the stumps.
3) Will New Players Play in Their Natural Positions?
There are quite a few new and returning players in this squad—Omair Bin Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz—but will they actually be allowed to play in their natural positions?
We’ve seen this mistake happen far too often. Players like Sahibzada Farhan, an opener with years of domestic performances, were drafted into the team only to be played at #6. Kamran Ghulam was shuffled between #6 and #3. Saud Shakeel, primarily a middle-order batter, was bizarrely asked to open in the Champions Trophy.
If the new players aren’t played in their proper roles, then it’s simply unfair to them. I hope this tour is different.
4) Will We Go Hard in the Powerplay?
The whole point of dropping Rizwan and Babar is to inject more intent in the first six overs. But if the new openers also go at six an over in the powerplay, then what’s the point of this change?
I remember when Saim Ayub first came into the team in 2023—his strike rate was just 123, basically the same as Riz-Bar, and many thought he was a fraud batter. But in 2024, he truly found his rhythm, finishing the year with a strike rate of 144 in 18 innings.
The new openers won’t have the luxury of time to settle. If they don’t perform aggressively from the start, Riz-Bar will be back before we know it. They need to show fearlessness from the get-go.
5) Shadab’s Bowling:
Pakistan desperately needs a bowling all-rounder, but I’m unsure if Shadab is the answer. He has been out of the national side since June 2024 and has since toiled away in domestic cricket. He has reportedly worked on his bowling action, particularly how he lands his front foot. But has it actually improved?
Looking at his domestic numbers this year, the results are far from convincing:
First-Class (Presidents Trophy Grade 1)
5 matches: Batting average of 34, bowling average of 115 (only 2 wickets)
Champions Cup (T20)
5 innings: Batting average of 6 (SR 70), bowling average nil (didn’t take a wicket)
I’m not sure why he was selected when his domestic performances don’t justify his inclusion. While he has put in the effort, I remain skeptical about whether he has actually improved.
Overall, I’m excited about this new-look team and hope the players play for the badge rather than for themselves.
1) Salman Agha’s Captaincy:
Salman’s appointment as captain is a curious one for me. He has proven to be a clutch player over the past year, plays selflessly, and excels in all three departments. He also speaks good English and expresses himself eloquently. However, he doesn’t strike me as a natural leader. He isn’t the captain of his PSL team, lacks a strong leadership record in domestic cricket, and doesn’t really display commanding body language in the field or while giving press confrences.
I wish him well and believe he could grow into the role, but he has a lot to prove. Mike Hesson spoke positively about his appointment on his YouTube channel, but I remain skeptical given his lack of leadership experience. To me, it seems like he was made captain simply because he’s the only player guaranteed a spot in the XI from now until the World Cup. That said, I genuinely like Salman and hope he does well.
2) Mohammad Haris and Usman Khan – The Keepers:
While most people will focus on how they bat, I’m more concerned about how they keep. Both have looked shaky behind the stumps and have missed quite a few catches and stumpings over the past year or two.
We all know they can strike at a better rate than Rizwan, but there’s no doubt that Rizwan is the superior wicketkeeper. If either of them wants to cement their place for the World Cup, they need to prove they can keep cleanly while maintaining a strike rate of over 130. There’s no point in striking at 140 if you keep blowing chances behind the stumps.
3) Will New Players Play in Their Natural Positions?
There are quite a few new and returning players in this squad—Omair Bin Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz—but will they actually be allowed to play in their natural positions?
We’ve seen this mistake happen far too often. Players like Sahibzada Farhan, an opener with years of domestic performances, were drafted into the team only to be played at #6. Kamran Ghulam was shuffled between #6 and #3. Saud Shakeel, primarily a middle-order batter, was bizarrely asked to open in the Champions Trophy.
If the new players aren’t played in their proper roles, then it’s simply unfair to them. I hope this tour is different.
4) Will We Go Hard in the Powerplay?
The whole point of dropping Rizwan and Babar is to inject more intent in the first six overs. But if the new openers also go at six an over in the powerplay, then what’s the point of this change?
I remember when Saim Ayub first came into the team in 2023—his strike rate was just 123, basically the same as Riz-Bar, and many thought he was a fraud batter. But in 2024, he truly found his rhythm, finishing the year with a strike rate of 144 in 18 innings.
The new openers won’t have the luxury of time to settle. If they don’t perform aggressively from the start, Riz-Bar will be back before we know it. They need to show fearlessness from the get-go.
5) Shadab’s Bowling:
Pakistan desperately needs a bowling all-rounder, but I’m unsure if Shadab is the answer. He has been out of the national side since June 2024 and has since toiled away in domestic cricket. He has reportedly worked on his bowling action, particularly how he lands his front foot. But has it actually improved?
Looking at his domestic numbers this year, the results are far from convincing:
First-Class (Presidents Trophy Grade 1)
5 matches: Batting average of 34, bowling average of 115 (only 2 wickets)
Champions Cup (T20)
5 innings: Batting average of 6 (SR 70), bowling average nil (didn’t take a wicket)
I’m not sure why he was selected when his domestic performances don’t justify his inclusion. While he has put in the effort, I remain skeptical about whether he has actually improved.
Overall, I’m excited about this new-look team and hope the players play for the badge rather than for themselves.
