The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named all-rounder Shadab Khan as the vice-captain of Pakistan’s national T20I team. This comes as part of the preparations for Pakistan’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, where they are set to play a series of five T20I matches starting March 16, 2025.
In this leadership reshuffle, Salman Ali Agha has been promoted to the captaincy of the T20I team, with Shadab Khan as his deputy. This change also means that Mohammad Rizwan, the previous T20I captain, will now focus on leading the ODI team, with Salman Ali Agha taking on the vice-captain role there. The team has seen a strategic focus on nurturing young talent in preparation for upcoming international tournaments, including the T20 Asia Cup in September 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in early 2026.
Shadab Khan shared his thoughts on the squad, highlighting the fresh energy and enthusiasm brought by the younger players. He expressed confidence that this would play a key role in the team’s success during the tour, where new leadership and youthful energy would be central.
Reactions to this decision have been mixed. While many have supported the leadership changes, former cricketer Shahid Afridi raised questions about Shadab Khan’s form, noting concerns over his recent performances. The debate surrounding player selection continues to spark discussions within the cricketing community.
As the team departs for New Zealand, there are high expectations for Pakistan’s performance. The series against New Zealand will serve as a critical part of their preparations for the major competitions ahead, with the leadership changes marking an important shift in the direction of the team.
The following is the list of players for both the T20I and ODI squads:
T20I Squad:
- 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
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Sufyan Moqim
- Usman Khan
ODI Squad:
- Mohammad Rizwan (Captain)
- Salman Ali Agha (Vice-Captain)
- Abdullah Shafique
- Abrar Ahmed
- Akif Javed
- Babar Azam
- Faheem Ashraf
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Khushdil Shah
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Muhammad Irfan Khan
- Naseem Shah
- Sufyan Moqim
- Tayyab Tahir
These leadership changes reflect the PCB’s ongoing efforts to build a balanced and competitive team for future international challenges. Fans will be eager to see how the new leadership dynamic unfolds during the New Zealand series, which could set the stage for future successes.
