Senior Pakistan Players May Skip New Zealand Tour Amid Champions Trophy Fallout: Report

Rapid Summary

• Pakistan has been eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted on home soil, after a winless campaign under captain Mohammad Rizwan.
• The team suffered defeats against India and New Zealand, becoming the first host nation to be knocked out of the tournament.
• Senior players like Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah are reportedly considering pulling out of the upcoming new Zealand white-ball tour.
• A source indicates these players might step back in anticipation of being dropped by selectors looking to revamp the squad for future tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 world Cup 2026.
• Interim head coach Aqib Javed’s tenure has ended; he is now under consideration for a senior role at Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy in Lahore. He had previously taken over after coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie resigned.
• Pakistan’s upcoming New Zealand series will consist of five T20Is and three odis from March 16 to April 5, 2025.

Image Descriptions:

1. Pakistani players standing during their national anthem before an ICC Champions Trophy match (AP Photo).
2. Pakistani team’s pre-match huddle at Dubai International Stadium (AP Photo).

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indian Opinion Analysis

The Pakistani cricket team’s performance in the ICC Champions Trophy highlights critically important challenges within its structure as both management and players face scrutiny after a disappointing campaign. The reported pullout plans by senior stars reveal concerns about player morale and selection uncertainty amidst efforts to rebuild for future international events like the T20 World Cup.

For India, this situation offers insight into potential shifts in its regional cricket rival’s approach as it could herald younger squads with fresh strategies that demand careful analysis on India’s part during multi-team tournaments. Such developments also underscore larger lessons about leadership stability and consistent talent development crucial for sustained competitiveness-values India must continue prioritizing.