LAHORE: Pakistan has omitted star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, appointing Salman Ali Agha as the new captain for the shortest format.
However, Rizwan will retain his role as captain for the ODI series, with Babar included in the squad. Meanwhile, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been left out of the 50-over format. The selection changes come in the wake of Pakistan’s underwhelming Champions Trophy campaign, where the defending champions were eliminated during the group stage.
The decision to sideline Babar and Rizwan in T20Is signals Pakistan's intent to experiment with new leadership and fresh talent ahead of crucial international tournaments. Selectors aim to revamp the squad by providing opportunities to emerging players while managing the workload of senior cricketers.
Pakistan will face New Zealand in a multi-format series, with both T20I and ODI squads looking to regain momentum after recent setbacks. The management believes these changes will help strengthen the team’s long-term prospects and ensure better performances in future competitions.
