The Pakistan cricket team began their preparations on March 7, 2025, for their upcoming tour of New Zealand, where they will face a tough challenge in various limited-overs formats. The squad, which includes some fresh faces, is training hard to tackle the demanding conditions expected in New Zealand.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has organized a rigorous training camp at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground to get the team ready for the five T20Is and three ODIs, set to begin on March 16. The training sessions, as shown in images shared by the PCB, involve intense workouts to help the players fine-tune their skills ahead of the series.
With the squad including some promising new talent, Pakistan aims to turn around its recent disappointing performances in international cricket. The team has faced significant criticism after its poor showing in recent ICC tournaments, including the Champions Trophy, which has led to a cloud of doubt surrounding their future.
However, the tour of New Zealand offers a chance for Pakistan to rebuild confidence and restore their standing in global cricket. The T20I team, especially, is likely to be closely observed, given the recent changes in leadership and the focus on identifying key players for future tournaments like the 2025 Asia Cup (which will be played in T20 format) and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The last T20I series between the two teams took place in April 2024, when New Zealand visited Pakistan. That series ended in a 2-2 draw after the first match was washed out by rain.
The Pakistani squad for the T20I series against New Zealand includes:
- 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
- Usman Khan
Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand schedule:
- March 16 – First T20I, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- March 18 – Second T20I, University Oval, Dunedin
- March 21 – Third T20I, Eden Park, Auckland
- March 23 – Fourth T20I, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
- March 26 – Fifth T20I, Sky Stadium, Wellington
- March 29 – First ODI, McLean Park, Napier
- April 2 – Second ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton
- April 5 – Third ODI, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
