PCB Drops Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan After ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Exit

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, PCB

March 5, 2025

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PCB Drops Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan After ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Exit

Pakistan’s cricket team is heading to New Zealand for a series of matches, and they’re bringing a very different team than before. Big changes have been made, especially to the T20 squad. Two of the team’s most experienced players, Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan, will not be playing in the T20 games.

New Captains Take Charge

Instead of Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha will lead the T20 team as captain. Shadab Khan, a strong all-rounder, will be his helper, or vice-captain. This shows that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants to try new leadership.

Muhammad Rizwan Stays Captain in ODIs

Even though Pakistan did not do well in the recent ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Muhammad Rizwan will still be the captain of the ODI (One Day International) team. The selectors have made fewer changes to the ODI squad. Some players like Saud Shakil, Kamran Ghulam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf will not be playing in the ODIs.

Injuries Keep Key Players Out

Two important players, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, are injured and cannot play in New Zealand. Fakhar hurt his ribs during the Champions Trophy, and Saim broke his ankle during a Test series in South Africa. However, both players are expected to be fit again for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in April.

babar-azam-mohammad-rizwan

Coaching Changes

Aaqib Javed will continue to be the temporary head coach for the New Zealand series. The PCB plans to hire a permanent head coach before the next World Test Championship cycle, which starts in August. Also, Mohammad Yousuf will be the team’s batting coach.

The PCB has made it clear that they are planning for the future. They chose Salman and Shadab to lead the T20 team with the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup in mind. They want to build a strong team that can win these big tournaments.

The Tour Begins

The Pakistan team will play five T20 matches and three ODI matches in New Zealand. The tour starts on March 16. This is a chance for the new players and leaders to show what they can do.

Why the Big Changes?

Many people are asking why these big changes were made. First, the PCB wants to give new players a chance to prove themselves. Second, they want to try different strategies and leadership styles. Third, they are looking ahead to future tournaments and want to build a team that can compete at the highest level.

With a new captain and a changed team, the T20 series in New Zealand will be very interesting. People will be watching to see how the new players perform. Also, they will be watching to see how Salman Ali Agha handles his new role as captain.

In the ODI series, Muhammad Rizwan will have a chance to show his leadership skills again. The team will want to bounce back after their disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan’s cricket team is going through a period of change. The selectors are trying new things and looking towards the future. While some fans may be surprised by the changes, the PCB believes that this is the best way to build a stronger team. The tour of New Zealand will be a big test for the new players and leaders. It will be interesting to see how they perform and how the team develops.