Abrar Ahmed And...? Pakistan Likely To Drop These Players For 1st T20I Vs New Zealand

Players who could be dropped [Source: AP Photo]

After suffering heartbreaks in the Champions Trophy 2025, both New Zealand and Pakistan will take on each other in a riveting 5-match T20I series, starting on March 16. The visiting Pakistan side crashed out of the tournament in the group stage, meanwhile, New Zealand reached the finals, but came up short against India.

Now, the focus has shifted towards the T20Is as the two teams will be eager to put the past behind and focus on winning the series. The Pakistan side made quite a few changes in the T20I squad and have a new captain in Agha Salman for the upcoming series. 

Ahead of the 1st T20I, we look at three Pakistan players, who could potentially be dropped for the 1st match on March 16.

1) Haris Rauf

Rauf's poor performance in CT

The Pakistan pacer has stellar numbers in T20I cricket, but as of late, he has been out of form and was dropped from ODIs. Haris Rauf  lacked the cutting edge in the Champions Trophy 2025 and went at an economy 7.94 runs per over.

Post the Champions Trophy exit, Pakistan wanted to move in a different direction as they wanted to try out youngsters for the New Zealand T20Is. Hence, the team management should give Jahandad Khan and Mohammad Ali chance in the 1st T20I instead of out of form players like Rauf.

Plus, post his injury in the tri-nation tournament, Rauf has looked lost and doesn't have the variations to trouble the Kiwi batters on smaller grounds.

2) Khushdil Shah

Khushdil batting stats in T20Is

The Pakistan selectors had a lot of hope when they brought in Khushdil Shah back in the ODI setup, but the all-rounder disappointed with his performances (both with bat and ball).

He failed to put up any pressure with the ball and wasn't able to deliver with the bat as well, despite getting ample chances in the middle-order. He has a strike-rate of 109 in this format, which is simply not good enough for someone who is considered as a finisher in the game's shortest format.

The team has Irfan Khan Niazi and Usman Khan, who are better hitters of the ball and can play the role of finisher in the 1st T20I.

3) Abrar Ahmed

Abrar Vs Sufiyan T20I stats

On New Zealand wickets which are more productive for pacers, Pakistan should only go with a solitary front-line spinner and it has to be Sufiyan Muqeem. The mystery spinner in his short T20I career has a fifer to his name and should pose a challenge for the Kiwis.

While Abrar has done well with the ball in T20Is and has 9 wickets in 7 matches, the conditions in New Zealand will only allow the team to play one spinner. Plus, Pakistan already has Shadab Khan and Agha Salman as the two part-timers, which should be sufficient enough to cause trouble.

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Haris Rauf And...? 3 Pakistan Stars Who Could Potentially Be Dropped After NZ T20Is

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