Salman Ali Agha named T20I captain as Pakistan announce squad for the white-ball series tour of New Zealand (2025)

[Rana]

Look at the thread title, no need to post nonsense posts and than hope for mods to delete it so that you can do a runner.

I have asked a relevant question to this thread. stop dodging.

So then answer what I asked you. What year did Misbah employ the RizBar template? What year did I start my campaign of persecution against the PCB for this decision?

 

[Major]

So then answer what I asked you. What year did Misbah employ the RizBar template? What year did I start my campaign of persecution against the PCB for this decision?

I asked the question first didnt I? You answer than i will answer back, promise

 

[Rana]

I asked the question first didnt I? You answer than i will answer back, promise

If you’ve read between the lines, I’m sure you have got the answer to your question.

 

[Major]

If you’ve read between the lines, I’m sure you have got the answer to your question.

again no answer as usual.

 

[shamaan]

Saud was our top scorer vs India and they dropped him for Imam and Tayyab ? Atleast get your accumulators right. Khushdil will fail in NZ as he can't handle bounce. M Harris should do well here.

NZ is a tough place to start your career as a subcontinent batsman. I remember Abdullah Shafique and Haider Ali completely failed there as newbies. Tim Southee out bounced them ! Now we have brought a new lot who ideally should've made their debuts in home series. T20 lineup from this squad;

M Harris
Hassan Nawaz/Omair
Salman
Shadab
Niazi
Sammad
Jahandad
Shaheen
Abbas
Harris
Abrar/Sufyan

Saud got his runs against the spinners he could not hit the ball outside the circle when the pacers were in the attack.

 

[shamaan]

Even if Pakistan loose the t20 series we must give the youngsters a fair chance.

 

[zaidihusain]

Pakistan name ODI and T20I squads for New Zealand tour​

Salman Ali Agha has been named Pakistan’s T20I captain, with Shadab Khan as vice-captain, for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand from 16-26 March. Mohammad Rizwan will continue as ODI captain, with Salman serving as his deputy for the three 50-over matches scheduled at the backend of the tour from 29 March to 5 April.

The decision to appoint Salman and Shadab as T20I captain and vice-captain, respectively, has been made with an eye on two major upcoming tournaments - the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 (September 2025) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (February/March 2026). Salman previously led Pakistan in a T20I series against Zimbabwe last year, winning 2-1.

As part of preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan is set to play a minimum of five T20Is in the ACC Asia Cup 2025 and three T20Is each against West Indies (away, July), Afghanistan (home, August), Ireland (home, September), South Africa (home, September/October), Sri Lanka (home, November) and Australia (home, January 2026).

Mohammad Rizwan will continue leading the ODI side as Pakistan builds towards the ICC Men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2027, which will take place in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe in October/November 2027.

Pakistan 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 and 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 and Tayyab Tahir. A wicketkeeper/batter will be added to the ODI squad following the T20Is

In the T20I squad, there are three uncapped players – Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Ali – while Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali the two players who have yet to debut in ODIs. The four players have been rewarded for their impressive performances in the Champions One-Day and T20 Cups.

In the Champions T20 Cup, Abdul Samad scored 115 runs at a strike-rate of 166.67 after aggregating 145 runs at a strike-rate of 122.88 in the Champions One-Day Cup. Likewise, Hasan Nawaz had a staller Champions T20 Cup, finishing as the second leading run-getter with 312 runs at a strike-rate of 142.47. Mohammad Ali with 22 wickets was the leading wicket-taker in Champions T20 Cup, while he took three wickets in the Champions One-Day Cup.

Akif Javed has been selected in the ODI side after his seven wickets in five Champions One-Day Cup matches, while he took 15 wickets in the Champions T20 Cup.

Openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were not considered for either format on medical advice. Fakhar suffered a left lower intercostal muscle sprain during Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand, while Saim is recovering from a right ankle fracture sustained on the first day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa in January. Both are expected to be fully fit for the HBL Pakistan Super League 10, starting in Rawalpindi on 11 April 2025.

Aqib Javed will continue as interim head coach for the New Zealand tour. His original term was until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but he has been asked to extend his tenure while the search for a permanent head coach begins. Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as batting coach.

Player Support Personnel - 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 and conditioning coach), Talha Butt (analyst), Irtiza Komail (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media and digital manager) and Sergio Basil Mullins (masseur).

New Zealand tour schedule:

16 Mar – first T20I, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

18 Mar – second T20I, University Oval, Dunedin

21 Mar – third T20I, Eden Park, Auckland

23 Mar – fourth T20I, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

26 Mar – fifth T20I, Sky Stadium, Wellington

29 Mar – first ODI, McLean Park, Napier

2 Apr – second ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton

5 Apr – third ODI, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

So from ODIs, Saud, Kamran & Usman are cleverly dropped for no reason and Babar & Imam are still retained. ODI fast bowling is looking very weak

 

[BouncerGuy]

PCB selectors are crazy. First they brought Usman in for missing opener because Abdullah was a walking wicket. then they brought imam back and usman was still sitting on the bench.

Now they brought back that walking wicket Abdullah back. This is crazy. Crazy stuff... Aaqbi javed's mindless selections are a joke.

 

[usman.sandhu]

What are your credentials buddy? How many runs have you scored

I have no credentials, but that's the point...

 

[Kianig89]

PCB selectors are crazy. First they brought Usman in for missing opener because Abdullah was a walking wicket. then they brought imam back and usman was still sitting on the bench.

Now they brought back that walking wicket Abdullah back. This is crazy. Crazy stuff... Aaqbi javed's mindless selections are a joke.

Merry Go round it is don't be surprised if Shan Masood is bought back in odis after NZ tour

 

[Rana]

Merry Go round it is don't be surprised if Shan Masood is bought back in odis after NZ tour

Merry go round around who? Rizwan at 4?

 

[Kianig89]

Merry go round around who? Rizwan at 4?

Don't worry RizBar are out from team if we are on winning track, let's hope the young guns deliver to end this saga once for all

 

[gazza619]

I have no credentials, but that's the point...

That point is pointless

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Don't worry RizBar are out from team if we are on winning track, let's hope the young guns deliver to end this saga once for all

This Salman Agha bubble will burst and there will be humiliation for everyone insulting Rizwan and Babar. Let's see the next 10 T20Is without Rizwan and Babar. For the sake of the anti Rizwan brigade, I hope they win at least 7 of the 10 games. If not I will put everyone on watch.

 

[Rana]

This Salman Agha bubble will burst and there will be humiliation for everyone insulting Rizwan and Babar. Let's see the next 10 T20Is without Rizwan and Babar. For the sake of the anti Rizwan brigade, I hope they win at least 7 of the 10 games. If not I will put everyone on watch.

Pakistan have lost how many and won how many since 2023 wc?

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Pakistan have lost how many and won how many since 2023 wc?

Why the arbitrary cut off? We reached semi 2021 and F in 2022?

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Bro give them a proper chance

Your a smart man. I don’t like talking to you as if you are Deewani or Major sab

Ok we give them 6 months - if they produce significantly better results, we have a deal?

 

[Rana]

Ok we give them 6 months - if they produce significantly better results, we have a deal?

T20 World Cup in India. We will see where we stand with a new approach.

Plus inclusions of Saim and Fakhar. Not Babar and Rizwan. That will give us the accurate picture.

Maybe inclusions of Khushdil, Iftikhar and Asif Ali too at some point, they are not the worst lower order T20 hitters.

 

[Kianig89]

T20 World Cup in India. We will see where we stand with a new approach.

Plus inclusions of Saim and Fakhar. Not Babar and Rizwan. That will give us the accurate picture.

Maybe inclusions of Khushdil, Iftikhar and Asif Ali too at some point, they are not the worst lower order T20 hitters.

Basically calling all TTF's.......no game played so far without RizBar and the critics already nervous

 

[usman.sandhu]

That point is pointless

Nope, it is on point, your love for Imam will not let you see it though... tough luck..

 

[Greenstorm]

Merry Go round it is don't be surprised if Shan Masood is bought back in odis after NZ tour

Shan actually was a better option than Imam and Abdullah in NZ.

 

[Greenstorm]

This Salman Agha bubble will burst and there will be humiliation for everyone insulting Rizwan and Babar. Let's see the next 10 T20Is without Rizwan and Babar. For the sake of the anti Rizwan brigade, I hope they win at least 7 of the 10 games. If not I will put everyone on watch.

Salman Agha had a decent PSL season. He may not be cut for T20s but atleast he shows intent. Babar and Rizwan play with bad neeyat in T20Is.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Muhammed Haris
Hassan Nawaz
Salman Agha
Irfan Khan
Abdul Sammad
Khushdil
Shadab
Janhadad Khan
Rauf
Shaheen
Sufyaan Muqeem

Yes good squad , but lets be clear the expectation is that young team was selected and they will play ...

Unfortunately with the fear of failure , fear of losing and losing captaincy they are reluctant to feature new faces at the forefront.

This is what will happen.... Usman Khan without nothing to show of as performance has become the senior player just being there in the side for nearly 10-12 months now.. So he will find a place in the 11 and probably as an opener , and his partner will be Haris and there will no place for Hasan Nawaz though he should be the first one there on the list as opener... If Agha selects him in the first T20 then hats off..

similarly the seniors get the first go... seniors in this squad now will form the team 11 the rest to warm the bench until the series has a result probably the 4th or 5th T2O they will get a chance. Who are seniors in the T2O squad now

1. Agha
2. Shadab
3. Shaheen
4. Rauf
5. Usman khan
6. Khushdil
7. Abrar
8. Haris (wk)
9. Abbas
10. Irfan khan
11. Sufyan Muqeem
    
    the remaining will have to sit in the dugout carrying drinks and towel and wait for their turn when the so called senior fails or the series is lost....
    
    I hope Agha listens to Mike Hesson his ISLU coach advice in his youtube channel on how to select a team 11... he clearly gives a outline what to do.. Define roles and choose what u need > choose player who can do the role and then select the 11.... In PCT seniority bhaijaan comes first no matter what even if he is a masseur he will be the first name in the sheet just because he was in the team in prev tours...

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Shan actually was a better option than Imam and Abdullah in NZ.

Exactly .. 100% agree ... Imam will surely out in first over , his regular knick to the keeper or first slip and abdullah with his form and technique busted , with the angling of the bat coming from 3rd slip , becomes an LBW candidate or bowled easliy in NZ and both will be peppered with short balls , especially Imams weakness...

Shan is better suited for NZ... I would make the same test no. 3 and 4 in ODIs too..

1. Saim
2. Fakhar/Shafique
3. Shan
4. Babar
5. Agha
6. Rizwan( he should pushed down to ensure he plays less dot balls, hopefully his torture ends soon in ODIs.)
7. Irfan Khan / Arafat Minhas
8. Abbas Afridi
9. Naseem
10. Shaheen
11. Sufyan Muqeem

 

[gazza619]

Nope, it is on point, your love for Imam will not let you see it though... tough luck..

Lol. When did I say I love Imam.

 

[topspin]

Nope, it is on point, your love for Imam will not let you see it though... tough luck..

Mediocre fans will always find common ground with mediocrity

 

[Rana]

Lol. When did I say I love Imam.

You said Imam in white ball cricket over Sharjeel and Asif

 

[topspin]

You said Imam in white ball cricket over Sharjeel and Asif

Sharjeel and Asif might be well past it but no way I would take Imam over them. Madness.

 

[mominsaigol]

Lol. When did I say I love Imam.

Imam should be our t20 opener imo. Genuinely I mean it. It's the only way rizwan can come back into the fold and the likes of you and @daytrader can use the classic "I told you so" excuse.

To this date I never understood Misbah's philosophy. He promoted imam as a t20 opener to destroy Sarfraz once and for all yet then he decided to make rizwan and babar t20 openers .

Was he trying to ruin Babar and Rizwan as well? Is misbah secretly against rizwan as well?

 

[Farabi]

Yes good squad , but lets be clear the expectation is that young team was selected and they will play ...

Unfortunately with the fear of failure , fear of losing and losing captaincy they are reluctant to feature new faces at the forefront.

This is what will happen.... Usman Khan without nothing to show of as performance has become the senior player just being there in the side for nearly 10-12 months now.. So he will find a place in the 11 and probably as an opener , and his partner will be Haris and there will no place for Hasan Nawaz though he should be the first one there on the list as opener... If Agha selects him in the first T20 then hats off..

similarly the seniors get the first go... seniors in this squad now will form the team 11 the rest to warm the bench until the series has a result probably the 4th or 5th T2O they will get a chance. Who are seniors in the T2O squad now

1. Agha
2. Shadab
3. Shaheen
4. Rauf
5. Usman khan
6. Khushdil
7. Abrar
8. Haris (wk)
9. Abbas
10. Irfan khan
11. Sufyan Muqeem
    
    the remaining will have to sit in the dugout carrying drinks and towel and wait for their turn when the so called senior fails or the series is lost....
    
    I hope Agha listens to Mike Hesson his ISLU coach advice in his youtube channel on how to select a team 11... he clearly gives a outline what to do.. Define roles and choose what u need > choose player who can do the role and then select the 11.... In PCT seniority bhaijaan comes first no matter what even if he is a masseur he will be the first name in the sheet just because he was in the team in prev tours...

@Rana please evaluate from this squad

Hassan Nawaz
Mohd Haris (c)
OBY
UsmanK
Irfan Khan Niazi
Abdus Samad
Khusdil shah
Shadab Khan
Jahandad K
Abbas A
Sufiyan M