After an embarrassing exit from the group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan cricket team is now preparing for a limited-overs series against New Zealand. Five T20 and three ODI matches will be played between the two teams. Although ODI matches do not hold much importance for them at the moment, the T20 series will give Pakistan a chance to find their best combination for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan’s T20 Rebuild: Focus on Youth for New Zealand Series
According to media reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may rest senior players for this tour. If reports are to be believed, big names like Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah will not be seen in the T20 series against New Zealand.
Pakistan’s T20 team is currently going through a transition phase. The team management is now preparing to give a chance to the youth. In such a situation, some players can be seen in the series against New Zealand. If these players get a chance, they can prove to be important for Pakistan’s T20 future.
Three Rising Stars To Watch in the New Zealand Series
Zaman Khan: The Emerging Fast Bowling Talent
Pakistan’s young fast bowler Zaman Khan’s name has been in the headlines in the T20 circuit for a long time. This 23-year-old bowler has taken 129 wickets in 103 T20 matches so far. He has had a strike rate of 16.6 and an average of 23.69 during this time. Zaman has also taken 44 wickets in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Apart from swinging the new ball, Zaman also has the ability to trick batsmen with his yorkers and slower balls in the death overs. Last year in the National T20 Cup, he took 10 wickets in 8 matches. In such a situation, in case Shaheen Afridi gets a rest, Zaman Khan’s return to the team is considered certain.
Yasir Khan: The Explosive Opening Option
Due to Saim Ayub’s injury and Fakhar Zaman‘s fitness issues, the opening spot is a major worry for the Pakistani team. On top of that, the team management is planning to drop Babar Azam from the T20 setup. In such a situation, 22-year-old Yasir Khan can get a surprising entry.
Yasir has so far scored 915 runs in 35 innings in his short T20 career. His strike rate has been 138.21 and his average has been 26.91 during this time. In the National T20 Cup last year, he scored 350 runs at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 144.62. Yasir’s explosive batting can help the team get a quick start in the power play.
Mohammad Imran: Consistent Domestic Performer
Pakistan’s emerging 24-year-old fast bowler Mohammad Imran has been performing consistently well in domestic cricket for some time now. Along with swinging the new ball, Imran troubles the batsmen with his slower balls and variations in the middle and death overs.
Imran has taken 73 wickets in the 53 T20 matches played so far. He has a strike rate of 16.6 and a bowling average of 23.10. He took 20 wickets in the National T20 Cup last year. The special thing is that he took these wickets at an average of 11 and a strike rate of 10.80, while his economy rate was only 6.11.
Imran has been knocking on the team’s door for a long time and if Shaheen is rested, he may get a surprise call for the New Zealand tour.
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