Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to advise opening batsmen Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf to take rest for New Zealand tour, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
The national cricket team will depart for New Zealand on March 12 to play three ODIs and five T-20 matches.
Sources revealed that a 20-member national cricket squad will be announced soon sans top batter Babar Azam.
Sources further said that young players will be included in the national cricket squad for New Zealand tour.
Sources said that after humiliating defeat in ICC Champions Trophy, Babar Azam is playing tennis along with Imamul Haq, Usman Qadir and his brother.
Earlier, gloom and demands for wholesale changes have engulfed cricket-crazy Pakistan after the hosts crashed out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage, barely a week into celebrating the return of a major tournament.
The titleholders lost their opening game to New Zealand by 60 runs in Karachi before six-wicket defeat to archrivals India pushed them to the brink of an early exit.
Reporter: Mohammad Hammad