The Pakistan men’s cricket team departed from Lahore Airport early Wednesday morning, bound for Christchurch via Dubai, to kick off an eagerly awaited white-ball tour of New Zealand. The tour, featuring five T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One Day Internationals (ODIs), runs from March 16 to April 5, promising a thrilling clash between two formidable sides.
Led by T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and ODI skipper Mohammad Rizwan, the squad blends seasoned stars with fresh faces, including debutants Abdul Samad and Hassan Nawaz. Samad, a hard-hitting batter, and Nawaz, a promising wicketkeeper-batter, earned their maiden call-ups after standout performances in the 2024-25 domestic season. Vice-captain Shadab Khan, brimming with enthusiasm, shared his optimism about the team’s prospects. “I’ve been entrusted with an additional role, and I’ll try my best to perform well,” Shadab said before departure. “There are many young players in the squad. The energy and positivity of youth are different. We have high expectations from the debutants, and we hope to achieve success.”
New Zealand, fresh off their run to the Champions Trophy final earlier this year, have named all-rounder Michael Bracewell as captain for the T20I leg. Their squad includes seven players from that campaign, signaling their intent to maintain momentum against a Pakistan side eager to rebound from recent international struggles.
The tour marks Pakistan’s first bilateral series in New Zealand since January 2024, when they suffered a 4-1 T20I defeat. Their last encounter, a five-match T20I series in Pakistan in April 2024, ended in a 2-2 draw after the opener in Rawalpindi was washed out. This time, both teams will battle across iconic venues like Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, Auckland’s Eden Park, and Wellington’s Sky Stadium, with the ODIs following in Napier, Hamilton, and Mount Maunganui.
Adding to the excitement, batting consultant Mohammad Yousuf will join the team after reversing an earlier decision to withdraw due to his daughter’s illness. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed Yousuf’s inclusion on Tuesday, hours after announcing his initial absence. “Doctors told me that my daughter’s health is better now, so I’m going with the team,” Yousuf said. “Going with the team is a national duty that I have decided to fulfill.” His presence bolsters the coaching staff, with interim head coach Aqib Javed and newly appointed batting coach Mohammad Yousuf aiming to sharpen Pakistan’s batting edge.
The T20I squad features a mix of youth and experience, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan anchoring the bowling attack alongside newcomers like Jahandad Khan and Mohammad Abbas Afridi. The ODI lineup sees the return of Babar Azam, absent from the T20I side, alongside stalwarts like Imam-ul-Haq and Naseem Shah. Notably, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub miss out due to ongoing recoveries from injuries sustained earlier this year.
As Pakistan prepares to face a formidable New Zealand outfit on their home turf, fans back home are buzzing with anticipation. With the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup looming in September and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, this tour is a critical stepping stone for Salman Ali Agha’s men to fine-tune their game and unleash their potential.
Tour Schedule:
- March 16: 1st T20I, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- March 18: 2nd T20I, University Oval, Dunedin
- March 21: 3rd T20I, Eden Park, Auckland
- March 23: 4th T20I, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
- March 26: 5th T20I, Sky Stadium, Wellington
- March 29: 1st ODI, McLean Park, Napier
- April 2: 2nd ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton
- April 5: 3rd ODI, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
