Pakistan Cricket Board Revamps Team for New Zealand Tour After Champions Trophy 2025 Setback
Image credits: NDTV
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken significant steps to revamp the national team after their disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The team's early exit from the tournament, marked by losses to India and New Zealand, has sparked widespread criticism and calls for reform within the PCB. In response, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with top-performing domestic cricketers at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to address their concerns and outline measures to support their development.
During the meeting, players highlighted issues related to training at high-performance centers, fitness, and diet plans. The PCB has established academies in Karachi, Lahore, and Multan, but these institutions have been criticized for lacking comprehensive plans to nurture young talent. To address these concerns, the PCB has instructed relevant authorities to prepare special diet plans for the players' fitness and make trainers available for their physical training. The PCB has also ensured access to all academies for the players, providing them with the necessary resources to improve their skills.
The PCB is considering giving young talent an opportunity in the upcoming tour of New Zealand, which begins on March 16. Pakistan will play five T20 Internationals and three One-day Internationals during the tour. The team's performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 has raised questions about the future of senior players, including Babar Azam, who faced criticism for his slow knock against New Zealand and his dismal performance against India. As per reports, Babar Azam is unlikely to be part of Pakistan's T20 squad for the tour, and discussions have begun regarding senior players taking a break from the series.
The PCB's decision to include young players in the T20 squad for the New Zealand tour is seen as a long-term strategy for the T20 World Cup, which is set to be held next year in India and Sri Lanka. Former wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif has suggested a list of young players who should be considered for the upcoming series, including Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, Abdul Samad, Akif Javed, and Muhammad Nafay. The PCB's focus on developing young talent is a positive step towards rebuilding the team and improving their performance in international tournaments. The cricket board's efforts to address the concerns of domestic players and provide them with the necessary support and resources are crucial in helping the team regain its competitive edge.
The following players are likely to be considered for the upcoming series:
- Hassan Nawaz
- Ali Raza
- Abdul Samad
- Akif Javed
- Muhammad Nafay
- Muhammad Haris
- Sufyan Muqeem
- Arafat Minhas
- Irfan Khan Niazi
- Zaman Khan
- Mohammad Wasim
- Abbas Afridi
- Jahandad Khan
- Agha Salman
- Abrar Ahmed
- Omair Bin Yousuf
- Khushdil Shah
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