According to reports from Pakistani media outlets, selectors have initiated discussions with Babar Azam regarding squad selection. An announcement regarding the squad is anticipated by April 5, pending final fitness assessments of players undergoing training at the Army camp in Kakul.
Shaheen Afridi is expected to miss a portion of the series against New Zealand due to PCB’s directives on workload management. Meanwhile, Haris Rauf, still recovering from an injury sustained during the PSL, will not participate in the NZ series and will continue rehabilitation. He remains a crucial figure for upcoming campaigns, including the T20 World Cup.
The shortlist for the NZ series includes Babar Azam (captain), along with players such as Usman Khan, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Aamir Jamal, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, and Zaman Khan.
