By Rohit - March 04, 2025 04:58 PMSalman Ali Agha Named Pakistan’s T20I Captain for New Zealand Series; Rizwan to Lead ODI Side
In a significant move aimed at shaping Pakistan’s future in white-ball cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced Salman Ali Agha as the new T20I captain for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, scheduled from 16 to 26 March. Shadab Khan will serve as his deputy, while Mohammad Rizwan will continue to lead the ODI side, with Salman also appointed as vice-captain for the three 50-over matches against the Black Caps from 29 March to 5 April.
The decision to appoint Salman and Shadab as T20I captain and vice-captain, respectively, is part of a broader strategy to prepare for two major tournaments: the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 in September and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in February/March. Salman, who previously led Pakistan to a 2-1 series victory against Zimbabwe in 2024, has been entrusted with the responsibility of steering the team through a busy T20I schedule over the next two years.
Pakistan’s roadmap to the T20 World Cup 2026 includes a packed calendar, with the team set to play a minimum of five T20Is in the Asia Cup 2025, followed by three-match series 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).
On the other hand, Mohammad Rizwan will continue to lead the ODI side as Pakistan builds towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be hosted by Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in October/November 2027.
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.
The T20I squad features three uncapped players – Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali – who have been rewarded for their stellar performances in the recently concluded Champions One-Day and T20 Cups. Samad impressed with his aggressive batting, scoring 115 runs at a strike rate of 166.67 in the T20 Cup, while Hasan Nawaz finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 312 runs at a strike rate of 142.47. Mohammad Ali, the leading wicket-taker in the T20 Cup with 22 scalps, has also earned his maiden call-up.
In the ODI squad, Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali are the two uncapped players. Akif’s seven wickets in the Champions One-Day Cup and 15 wickets in the T20 Cup have earned him a spot in the 50-over side.
However, the squads also feature some notable exclusions. Star openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were not considered due to injuries. 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 during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in January. Both players are expected to return for the HBL Pakistan Super League 10, starting in Rawalpindi on 11 April 2025.
Additionally, the exclusion of premium pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf from the ODI squad has raised eyebrows, especially given their participation in the Champions Trophy 2025.
Aqib Javed will continue as interim head coach for the New Zealand tour. Initially appointed until the Champions Trophy 2025, Aqib has been asked to extend his tenure while the PCB searches for a permanent head coach. Meanwhile, former batting great Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as the team’s batting coach.
The New Zealand series marks the beginning of a new chapter for Pakistan cricket, with Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan tasked with leading the T20I side into a new era. With a mix of experienced players and exciting young talent, Pakistan will aim to fine-tune their combinations and strategies ahead of the upcoming global tournaments. Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan’s leadership in the ODI format will be crucial as the team builds towards the 2027 World Cup.
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