Pakistan's T20I captain Salman Agha emphasizes on 'fearless' approach
What's the story
Salman Agha, the newly appointed captain of Pakistan's T20I team, has stressed the need for a mindset shift and strategic transformation in their approach to cricket.
Ahead of the five-match away T20I series against New Zealand, Agha emphasized the importance of playing "fearless" and "high-risk cricket."
This comes as part of preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
"We have a new side, and we want to play fearless cricket," Agha stated in the press conference.
Team changes
New players step into the squad
In a major departure, star batter Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped from the squad after they were constantly questioned about their strike rates in T20 cricket.
With Saim Ayub still injured, the team is completely new for this series.
The Pakistani side will take on the Champions Trophy 2025 runners-up with a number of new faces on board.
Opponent's lineup
New Zealand's squad for the T20 series
New Zealand will also miss some of their key players due to Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 commitments.
Fast bowler Matt Henry returns to the squad after missing out on the Champions Trophy final against India in Dubai.
Will O'Rourke and Kyle Jamieson will play the initial three matches, as Kane Williamson has opted out of this series.
Meanwhile, Michael Bracewell has been named captain of New Zealand in Mitchell Santner's absence due to IPL obligations.
Venue details
Hagley Oval: A batsman's paradise
The Hagley Oval surface is known to be batsman-friendly, with teams batting second having a better success rate in T20 internationals.
Ahead of the series, Kiwi skipper Bracewell spoke about Pakistan's revamped squad.
He admitted the uncertainty of new players joining their team but was confident that if they stick to their plan, it would be beneficial against any opponent.
"With a few new young players coming into the Pakistan side, there is a bit of the unknown," he stated.
Captaincy insights
Agha's vision for the team
Sharing his vision for the team, Agha said, "This is a young team, and we want to play fearless cricket. That is high-risk cricket which is a requirement in modern cricket."
He admitted there could be failures with this approach but stressed the need to support their players.
"There will be failures with that approach, but we have to support our players," Agha added.
This bold strategy marks a new era in Pakistan's T20I cricket journey under Agha's leadership.
Squad
Pakistan and New Zealand's squad
New Zealand Squad: Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell(c), Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke, Mitchell Hay
Pakistan Squad: Omair Yousuf, Usman Khan(w), Abdul Samad, Mohammad Haris, Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha(c), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Mugeem, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan.