Major Changes in Pakistan Cricket Team for New Zealand Tour, Salman Ali Agha Named New T20 Captain

The Pakistan cricket team squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand has been announced, with significant changes. Mohammad Rizwan has been removed as the T20 captain, and Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the new captain. Shadab Khan will serve as the vice-captain.

The One-Day International (ODI) team has also undergone six changes, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, and Usman Khan being dropped from the squad.

These changes have sparked various reactions on social media. Saleem Khaleq commented, “Despite these changes, the selection committee remains the same, interim head coach Aqib Javed is still in place, failed players are retained, and even the players favored by recommendations remain.” He added that the squad for the New Zealand tour shows that in Pakistan, the opinions of cricket fans, former cricketers, and the media hold no importance.

Mohammad Waleed Khan wrote, “After poor performance in ODIs, Pakistan’s T20 team and captain have been changed, and then they wonder why our cricket is not improving.”

Aamir Saeed Abbasi remarked, “The selection committee and head coach remain, and the team is almost the same, with only a 19-20 player difference. This time, too, the nation will wait not for a victory but for the announcement of the next surgery.”

Qadir Khawaja expressed his disappointment, stating, “It’s a bad decision to remove Saud Shakil from the squad.”

Shanzee, a social media user, sarcastically said, “Just run a campaign on social media, and you’ll be in the team.”

The Pakistan national team will be playing five T20 and three ODI matches in New Zealand from March 16 to April 5. The first T20 match will be on March 16, followed by the second on March 18, third on March 21, fourth on March 23, and fifth on March 26. The three ODIs will be played on March 29, April 2, and April 5.