New Delhi: Following a disappointing campaign in the 2025 Champions Trophy Pakistan has arrived in New Zealand for a series comprising five T20Is and three ODIs against the BlackCaps. While New Zealand reached the tournament final Pakistan suffered an early exit in the league stage prompting major selection changes. In response to their underwhelming performance the selectors made bold decisions dropping several senior players. Among them Babar Azam was left out of at least one format as part of the team’s restructuring. New Zealand will be without several of their first-choice players as many are currently in India for IPL 2025. In the absence of Mitchell Santner Michael Bracewell has been handed the captaincy. Bracewell who was picked by Mumbai Indians for ₹2 crore in the mega-auction previously played for Chennai Super Kings from 2018 to 2024. As Pakistan and New Zealand prepare for the first T20I on March 16 significant changes have been made to the Pakistan squad. The selectors have taken bold decisions following Pakistans disappointing Champions Trophy campaign leading to a revamped T20I lineup. Here’s a detailed look at the alterations in Pakistan’s squad for the series. Babar Azam Dropped from T20I Squad One of the most significant decisions by the Pakistan selectors was dropping Babar Azam from the T20I team. The former captain has faced criticism for his slow strike rate in the shortest format and the selectors have now opted to move forward without him. Along with Babar Pakistan’s current white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan has also been excluded from the squad marking a major shift in the teams approach. Rizwan Dropped Due to Strike Rate Concerns Like Babar Azam Mohammad Rizwan was also left out of the T20I squad due to his struggles with maintaining a high strike rate. The selectors decided to take a bold approach by bringing in fresh faces. Salman Agha has been appointed as the new T20I captain signaling a new direction for the team. Injuries and Other Omissions Saim Ayub one of Pakistan’s promising young batsmen was unavailable for selection due to an injury. Along with him pacer Mohammad Hasnain and batsman Tayyab Tahir have also been dropped from the squad. These exclusions suggest that the selectors are looking to revamp the team’s approach in T20 cricket. New Faces in the T20I Squad Pakistan’s revamped squad features several new and returning players. Young batsman Hasan Nawaz has been named in the squad alongside Abdul Samad and Khushdil Shah. The inclusion of these players indicates a shift towards a more aggressive batting lineup. Shadab Khan Returns as Vice-Captain In a significant move Shadab Khan has been reinstated as the T20I vice-captain. The all-rounder previously held the same role and is expected to provide leadership support to Salman Agha. His return strengthens both Pakistan’s spin department and their lower-order batting. Mohammad Haris Back in the Squad Another player making his return to the T20I squad is wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris. Having already played six ODIs and nine T20Is for Pakistan Haris brings valuable experience and an aggressive style of play that aligns with the team’s new strategy.