After their disappointing Champions Trophy run, Pakistan Cricket Team plans to make 5โ6 changes for the New Zealand tour. Senior players, including Babar Azam, will rest to give younger talents a chance to prove themselves.
Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited the National Cricket Academy to meet promising domestic players. During the meeting, he listened to their concerns and discussed their aspirations. This exchange provided valuable insights into the players’ challenges and future goals.
The players at the meeting included Haider Ali, Moaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Suleman, Khawaja Nafi, Saad Masood, Afaq Afridi, Mubasir Khan, Faisal Akram, Qasim Akram, Irfan Minhas, Mirza Tahir Baig, Ahmad Daniyal, Ali Reza and Muhammad Ibtisam. According to sources, the final squad for the New Zealand tour will come from this group.
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Notably, the selection committee is expected to pick 5โ6 rising stars for the team. They will likely announce the final squad within the next 3โ4 days, giving the team time to prepare.
Pakistanโs early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy highlighted the need for change. They lost their opening match to New Zealand by 60 runs. Later, they suffered a 6-wicket defeat against India in a high-pressure game. On February 27, rain washed out the match against Bangladesh, concluding both teams’ hopes of advancing.
Despite these setbacks, the upcoming New Zealand tour offers Pakistan a fresh start. The schedule includes 5 T20 matches and 3 ODIs. The first T20 will take place in Christchurch on March 16, followed by games in Dunedin, Auckland, Mount Maunganui and Wellington.
The ODI series kicks off in Napier on March 29, with the next matches in Hamilton and Mount Maunganui. This tour gives Pakistan a golden opportunity to rebuild their squad, test new talent, and gain momentum for future tournaments.
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