CHRISTCHURCH: Paki­stan embark on a ‘fearless’ new era with the five-game Twe­nty20 International series against New Zealand on Sunday and captain Salman Ali Agha said he hopes his charges use it to their advantage as the team eyes the Asia Cup and next year’s T20 World Cup.

Poor recent performances, including at last month’s Champions Trophy at home, have forced several changes to the team; star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan having been omitted with a number of new players being called up the team.

With Pakistan also missing explosive openers Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, Salman said on Saturday that the team is working towards building new combinations.

“Babar and Rizwan have contributed a lot to Pakistan cricket,” noted Salman during a news conference at Hagley Oval on the eve of the series opener. “We will miss Fakhar and Saim because on any given day, they can prove to be the difference. Their progress is good and I’m hopeful they will be back soon.

“But here, we’re trying new cricketers and looking to build new combinations. We have some young players in the side, and it is an opportunity for them to showcase their talent at the international level after performing well in domestic cricket.”

Salman said that Pakistan had not lived up to expectations recently but hoped his new-look team can turn things around.

“The fans are disappointed and have every right to be,” he said. “We haven’t played the sort of cricket they expect from us and we have not played the cricket that we expected from ourselves. We have a young side but it doesn’t mean it isn’t a good side. We’re here to win as a blend of youth and experience.”

With a green-top awaiting Pakistan at the Hagley Oval, Salman hoped there will be some assistance for spinners as well while he backed frontline pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf to come good.

“It’s a green top but I think the pitch will help the spinners as well as it is the only ground in New Zealand that has a proper boundary,” he said. “Shaheen and Haris are outstanding bowlers and they will play a key role in the series.”

He reiterated that the team was looking to make the best use of the series as it looks ahead to the bigger tournaments around the corner. “The goal is to prepare well for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup,” he stated.

New Zealand too are without a number of key players due to their Indian Premier League commitments or otherwise. Michael Brace­well will lead the hosts but coach Gary Stead is “excited” about his side’s prospects.

“Bracewell has done it before for us when we were in Pakistan a year ago with a younger group of players,” Stead told Newstalk ZB on Saturday.

“With the IPL guys away and a few others unavailable, we’re looking at eight or nine out.

“But it’s a great opportunity for us. We’re excited with the players we have. We’re just a year away from the T20 World Cup so it’s a really important series for us.”

Stead was, however, wary of the challenge that Pakistan bring.

“They’re a bit of an unknown to be honest,” he said. “They’ve made a number of big calls and dropped some of their big players for the T20 series.

“They’re a youngish looking team with a lot of performing local players who’re playing [for the national team] for the first time. But Pakistan are always a handful ... their new players certainly be giving it their all.”

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2025