Mohammad Yousuf to join Pakistan squad for New Zealand tour

Pakistan’s batting coach, Mohammad Yousuf, will travel with the national team to New Zealand for the upcoming white-ball series. Initially, he had opted out due to his daughter’s health on March 11, but later decided to join the squad.

The legendary cricketer has assured the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that he will accompany the team for the five-match T20I series and three ODIs against New Zealand. Yousuf will depart with the squad on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s First Tour After Champions Trophy Setback

This tour marks Pakistan’s first international assignment since their disappointing Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. The team suffered defeats against New Zealand and India, while their final group-stage match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain. Pakistan’s poor performance led to widespread criticism from both fans and former players.

Coaching Changes After Champions Trophy

Following the Champions Trophy failure, the PCB appointed Mohammad Yousuf as batting coach to strengthen the team’s performance.

He was the only new addition to the coaching staff, as the PCB retained Aaqib Javed as interim head coach and Azhar Mahmood as assistant coach. The board also announced plans to advertise for a permanent head coach after the tour.

A PCB official confirmed that Yousuf’s daughter is now in better health, allowing him to travel with the team.

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