Senior players may skip NZ tour

LAHORE: Several senior players of the Pakistan cricket team are reportedly considering skipping the upcoming tour of New Zealand following their poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Sources revealed that some players have discussed taking a “break” from the series, which includes five T20Is and three ODIs, scheduled from March 16 to April 5. This comes amid growing speculation that key players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam might be dropped.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly disappointed with the team’s performance in the Champions Trophy, where Pakistan failed to win a single match, finishing fourth in Group A. Their campaign ended with two losses—against India and New Zealand—and a no-result match against Bangladesh due to rain.

The disastrous run has not only drawn criticism from fans and experts but also caught the attention of political leaders. Senior government officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aide Rana Sanaullah, have hinted that the matter may be discussed at the cabinet and parliamentary levels.