The performance of the Pakistan cricket team in the Champions Trophy 2025 was very disappointing. In this prestigious trophy played in their own hosting, the Pakistani team was eliminated in the group stage itself. Due to this failure, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had to suffer huge losses. After the Champions Trophy, the Pakistan team is now on a tour of New Zealand, but the condition of the team is bad there too. Pakistan had to face a crushing defeat in the first match of the five-match T20 series.
1. Absence of star players on New Zealand tour
Many big names are not included in the Pakistan team against New Zealand, which has weakened the strength of the team. Star batsmen Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Naseem Shah have not got a place in the team in the T20 series. These three players are considered an important part of the team, but they were not selected in the team for this tour.
The performance of the Pakistan team has been poor in the absence of these great players. Pakistan had to face a crushing defeat in the first T20 match, which has shaken the team’s confidence. The team had to face defeat due to the team’s weak bowling and inexperienced batting.
2. Distance from the National T20 Championship being held in Faisalabad
Before the New Zealand tour, the National T20 Championship is being organized in Faisalabad, where Pakistani players had a good opportunity to improve their performance and impress the selectors. Babar Azam and Naseem Shah got a chance to play in this tournament, but both the players refused to participate in it.
Now Pakistan’s ODI team captain Mohammad Rizwan has also refused to play in this important tournament. The withdrawal of star players like Babar, Naseem and Rizwan from the National T20 Championship is being considered a big setback for Pakistan cricket. Through this tournament, the players had the opportunity to prove their fitness and form, but all three decided to rest.
3. Mohammad Rizwan returns to club cricket after Umrah pilgrimage
Mohammad Rizwan has recently returned from Mecca after performing Umrah and now wants to rest before the New Zealand tour. However, Rizwan was seen playing a club cricket match in Peshawar on Sunday (March 16), pictures of which are going viral on social media.
Seeing this, cricket fans raised questions that when Rizwan refused to play in the National T20 Championship, why is he playing club cricket. However, according to reports, Rizwan wants to keep himself light and fresh before the New Zealand tour, so he preferred club cricket instead of playing in the National T20 Championship.
4. New Zealand vs Pakistan ODI series starts on March 29
The Pakistan team is currently playing a five-match T20 series on its New Zealand tour, the final match of which will be played in Wellington on March 26. After this, there will be a three-match ODI series between the two teams, which will start in Napier from March 29.
The second match of this ODI series will be played in Hamilton on April 2, while the third and final match will be played in Mount Maunganui on April 5. The Pakistan team’s squad has been announced for this series, in which Mohammad Rizwan has been made the captain, while Salman Ali Agha has been given the responsibility of vice-captain.
Pakistan team’s ODI squad (for New Zealand tour)
- Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
- Vice-Captain: Salman Ali Agha
- Abdullah Shafiq
- Abrar Ahmed
- Aakif Javed
- Babar Azam
- Faheem Ashraf
- imam-ul-haq
- khushdil shah
- mohammed ali
- Mohammad Wasim Jr.
- mohammad irfan khan
- naseem shah
- Sufyan Muqeem
- Tayyab Tahir
This tour is very challenging for the Pakistan cricket team. After the defeat in the Champions Trophy 2025, the team’s performance on the New Zealand tour also looks weak. The team is suffering a lot due to the absence of star players. At the same time, the non-participation of experienced players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah in the National T20 Championship has become a matter of concern for the team’s preparations. Now it remains to be seen how the Pakistan team performs in the ODI series.
