This decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes as a late change, with Arafat set to take over from the current high-performance coach, Simon Helmot, for the New Zealand series.

Helmot, initially part of the coaching staff for the ongoing Australia series, is reportedly unavailable due to personal commitments.

This move adds to recent alterations in the coaching setup led by the PCB, which witnessed Mohammad Hafeez assuming the role of team director and head coach for Pakistan’s tour of Australia, succeeding Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn. Despite being retained by the PCB, Arthur and Bradburn did not join the Australian tour and await new assignments.

Pakistan’s squad for the New Zealand tour includes players such as Shaheen Afridi (captain), Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and others.

The schedule for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand:

• January 12: First T20I – New Zealand vs Pakistan in Auckland
• January 14: Second T20I – New Zealand vs Pakistan in Hamilton
• January 17: Third T20I – New Zealand vs Pakistan in Dunedin
• January 19: Fourth T20I – New Zealand vs Pakistan in Christchurch
• January 21: Fifth T20I – New Zealand vs Pakistan in Christchurch