Pakistan will tour New Zealand for a T20I series, and the selection committee is likely to bring some new faces along with seasoned players. The team has a combination of all-rounders, pace bowlers, and hard-hitting batters.
The team has players such as Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Sufiyan Muqeem, along with new faces like Irfan Khan and Jahandad Khan. Following is the likely squad:

Likely Squad

🚨Pakistan's likely T20I squad for New Zealand tour.

- Shadab, Haris, Sufiyan, Arafat, Irfan Khan, Zaman Khan, Wasim Jr, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Agha Salman, Abrar, Omair Bin Yousuf, Khushdil, Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, Abdul Samad, Akif Javed and Khawaja Nafay. pic.twitter.com/gKNp0Uci1s

— Salman 🇵🇰 (@SalmanAsif2007) March 2, 2025

ALSO SEE: Shreyas Iyer vs Babar Azam in ICC Events:

This team represents Pakistan's plan to strike a balance between inexperience and experience. Having youth players included means that the management has the strategy of developing future stars well before big events.
Pakistan will be looking for a good outing against New Zealand, and people cannot wait to witness how this team fares

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to include new-found talents in the March-April T20I series against New Zealand. This is being done after Pakistan's humiliating Champions Trophy exit when they became the first team to be knocked out despite being the host country. Based on reports, emerging talents from national cricket have been summoned to Lahore to attend a meeting with board officials during the selection process. The effort goes with Pakistan's vision for the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

🚨Mohammad Rizwan has been removed from T20I captaincy after today's meeting with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. [Ejaz Wasim Bukhari]

- Shadab Khan is likely to lead the Pakistan T20I squad for New Zealand tour. pic.twitter.com/yKrZsTU7y5

— Salman 🇵🇰 (@SalmanAsif2007) March 1, 2025

ALSO SEE: PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to Lead Asian Cricket Council Post Champions Trophy 2025

Meanwhile, ex-wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif came up with a list of youth players to be considered for the next series. His suggestions are Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, Abdul Samad, Akif Javed, and Muhammad Nafay. Besides, he thinks all-rounder Shadab Khan is the best choice to be the captain of the T20I team.
The wicketkeeper batter further shared some more names for the likely squad which are Muhammad Haris, Sufyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas, Irfan Khan Niazi, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Agha Salman, Abrar Ahmed, Omair Bin Yousuf and Khushdil Shah.
The Pakistani team will leave for New Zealand on March 12, and the five-match T20I series will start on March 16. Besides the T20Is, Pakistan will also feature in three ODIs, and the tour will last until April 5. Meanwhile, there are reports that some of the senior players are considering a break from international cricket after their dismal performances in the Champions Trophy.
Major players like Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam are said to be in the discussion in the selection meetings with some thinking of pulling out from the tour to prevent themselves from being dropped.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stirred up excitement among cricket enthusiasts as they unveil their 17-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, set to kick off on 18th April.

The squad announcement not only sees the return of Babar Azam as captain but also marks the comeback of seasoned campaigners Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, who have decided to reverse their retirement decisions ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

See Also: IPL 2024: Key points, Match 22, CSK vs KKR

Babar Azam Returns as Captain

After a brief hiatus, Babar Azam, the talismanic batsman, is back at the helm as the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball side. With his exceptional batting prowess and astute leadership skills, Azam is expected to lead the team from the front in the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim’s Comeback

Fans were pleased to learn that Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim are included in the squad. Both players have decided to make themselves available for selection, reversing their retirement decisions and bolstering Pakistan’s squad with their experience and skill set.

Coaching Staff Revamp

In addition to the player announcements, PCB has also revamped the coaching staff for the upcoming assignment. Former all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been appointed as the head coach for the five-match series, with Mohammad Yousuf and Saeed Ajmal joining as batting and spin-bowling coaches, respectively. Wahab Riaz, previously the chief selector, will now serve as the team manager, adding depth to the management setup.

Preparation for the T20 World Cup

Pakistan’s squad announcement is a testament to their meticulous preparation for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The team has recently concluded a rigorous fitness camp in Kakul, Abbottabad, aimed at fine-tuning their skills and boosting their physical fitness ahead of the mega-event.

Pakistan’s Packed Schedule

With the T20 World Cup looming on the horizon, Pakistan’s schedule is packed with crucial fixtures. After the series against New Zealand, they are set to travel to Ireland for a three-match T20I series. After this, Pakistan will face encounter against defending champions England in four T20Is.

Squad: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan. 

Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha.

New Zealand series schedule:

18 April – 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
20 April – 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi
21 April – 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi
25 April – 4th T20I, Lahore
27 April – 5th T20I, Lahore