LAHORE: In some major decisions taken on Tuesday, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was replaced with all-rounder Salman Ali Agha as Pakistan`s T20 captain, batter Babar Azam was axed for the shortest format while pacemen Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were dropped from the ODI squad for the forthcoming white-ball tour to New Zealand.

While Rizwan was excluded from the New Zealand-bound T20 party, leg-spinner Shadab Khan in a surprising move was brought back to international cricket as vice-captain of the T20 side as the national selectors included a number of youngsters for the March 16-April 5 tour that comprises five T20 Internationals and three ODIs.

The squads were announced by interim head coach Aaqib Javed, who is a member of the national selection committee, and Salman at a news conference in Lahore.

Rizwan, 32, led in four T20 Internationals late last year two each in Australia and South Africa all of which were lost by Pakistan. Following the series in Australia and South Africa, Salman led Pakistan to a 2-1 series triumph in Zimbabwe.

There were rumours of Rizwan getting removed also as the ODI leader, particularly after the national team`s disastrous show in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. Hosts Pakistan crashed out of the elite eight-nation event in the group stage after losing to New Zealand India.

However, the PCB decided to retain Rizwan as ODI leader while also retaining Aaqib in theinterim role. Furthermore, the Pakistan Cricket Board in a latest decision appointed former Test batter Mohammad Yousuf as the national team`s batting coach.

Opener Abdullah Shafique, who was dropped from the Champions Trophy squad cue to poor form, was recalled while Shaheen and Haris kept their place in the T20 team.

Flamboyant openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were not considered for either format on medical advice. Fakhar suffered a left lower intercostal muscle sprain during the Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand, while Saim is recovering from a right ankle fracture sustained during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in January. According to the PCB, both are expected to be fully fit for the Pakistan Super League starting on April 11.

In the T20 squad, there are three uncapped players Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Ali while Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali, the two players of the one-day squad, are yet to make ODI debut.

Though Samad recorded fine strike rates of 166.67 and 122.88 in the Champions T20 Cup and the Champions One-day Cup respectively, the 27-year-old was 21stinthelistoftopscorersinthe national T20 event in which Hussain Talat topped.

Likewise, 22-year-old Hasan had a stellar show Champions T20 Cup, finishing as the second highest run-getter (312, strike-rate 142.47).

Ali (22) was the leading wickettaker in the Champions T20 Cup while he took three wickets in the Champions One-Day Cup. Ali has played four Tests taking six wickets at a costly 67.66, but is yet make ODI debut.

Omair bin Yousuf, who has played six T20 Internationals but failed to impress scoring just 84, has been selected again in the national squad.

Inanothersurprise,pacerIrfanKhan Niazi, who in 10 T20 Internationals and eight ODIs, could not bowl a single ball while he scoring just 153 and 48 runs, respectively, is part of both the New Zealand-bound teams.

Mohammad Haris, who has been lucky to get enough chances but is yet to prove his mettle at the international level, also got a place in the national T20 squad.

Left-arm wrist spinner Sufyan Mogim, who has snared 16 wickets at an impressive average of 11.62 and took 4-52 in his only ODI appearance in South Africa, is included in both the teams.

Paceman Akif Javed was selected in the ODI side after claiming seven wickets in five Champions One-day Cup matches besides taking 15 in the Champions T20 Cup.

Speaking at the new conference, Aaqib noted that Karachi and Dubai were the centres, where bowlers could bowl reverse swing and added `but both Shaheen and Haris failed to do that and they were asked to work in that area`.

Defending the recalling of Shadab to the national team, the interim head coach said the legspinner had bowled in domestic four-day cricket and was needed by the team, which lacked seasonedall-roundersonthelasttours of Australia and South Africa.

`Keeping in mind the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 World Cup will be played in sub-continent, Shadab`s inclusion will be good for the team,` Aaqib reckoned.

After the T20 series in New Zealand, Aaqib added, one wicket-keeper would be added to Pakistan`s current ODI squad.

He said the team`s performances against South Africa and Australia made him believe that Pakistan had prepared a balanced team for the Champions Trophy, but it did notturnouttobethecase.

Aaqib noted that the national team during the past two and a half years had seen 16 coaches and 24 selectors, which never happened anywhere in the world of cricket.`We need consistency in every department to come out from the current bad phase,` Aaqib said.

He said no player including Babar, Shaheen and Haris had been excluded from the national team forever.

Talking to reporters at the press conference, Salman said leading the national T20 side was a challenge.

`It is a great honour for me and it is also a challenge for which I am ready and excited. Our T20 team consists mostly of youngsters as we are trying to bring those cricketers, who have been playing the brand of cricket at domestic level which is being played at international level,` Salman said.

As part of preparations for the 2026ICC T20 World Cup, Pakistan are set to play a minimum of five T20s in the 2025 Asia Cup and three T20s each against West Indies (away, July), Afghanistan (home, August), Ireland (home, September), South Africa (home, September/October), Sri Lanka (home, November) and Australia (home, January 2026).

Squads: T20: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah. Abbas Afridi. Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris. Mohammad Irfan Khan. Omair Bin Yousuf.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan ODI: Mohammad Ri zwan (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 Jr, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir. (A wicket-keeper/batter will be added to the ODI squad following the T2OIs) Playersupport personnel: NaveedAkramCheema (team manager), Aaqib Javed (interim head coach), Azhar Mahmood (assistant coach), Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Mohammad Masroor (fielding coach), Cliffe Deacon (physio), Drikus Saiman (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Butt (analyst), Irtiza Komail (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (doctor), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media and digital manager), Sergio Basil Mullins (masseur).

Tour schedule: March 16: First T20, Hagley Oval, Christchurch March 18: Second T20, University Oval, Dunedin March 21: Third T20. Eden Park. Auckland March 23: Fourth T20, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui March 26: Fifth T20, Sky Stadium, Wellington March 29: First ODI, McLean Park, Napier April 2: Second ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton April 5: Third ODI, Bay Oval