PAK vs NZ 1st T20I: New Zealand are in Pakistan for a five-match T20I series in their much-awaited Pakistan Tour in the T20 World Cup year. Pakistan will get a full dress rehearsal for the ICC marque event coming up later this year in this series against New Zealand. We have brought you the probable Playing 11s, Full Updated Squads, Venue, and more details for PAK vs NZ 1st T20I.
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Earlier this year, Pakistan toured New Zealand for a 5-match T20I series where the host won the series 4-1. Pakistan were stormed away by the Finn Allen Tsunami in the series where he scored 275 runs in that series. Babar Azar was the most successful batter from Pakistan playing under Shaheen Shah Afridi.
There are a lot of things going on with Pakistan Cricket Management on the captaincy issue. Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed as the skipper of the T20I side of Pakistan after Babar Azam stepped down from captaincy from all formats. After the utter failure of Pakistan in the New Zealand tour and also the Shaheen-led Lahore Qalandars, the PCB decided to sack Shaheen from captaincy and reappoint Babar as the skipper.
Babar Azam will be leading Pakistan in this series and hopefully in the T20 World Cup as well, while, on the other hand, New Zealand will be led by Michael Bracewell. The big names of New Zealand like Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Santner, and more are bound to the IPL commitments. Further, Finn Allen and Adam Milne are also out now as they are injured.
The team visiting Pakistan is a second or thing string of New Zealand but still looks a good side. Batting might be a point of worry for them because only 6 batters are available in the squad. Any unwanted injury will cause problems for them in the series.
The first T20I will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on April 18. Rawalpindi is known for high scores and similar is expected from the contest as well.
Below are the Full Updated Squads, Most probable Playing 11s, and more details for PAK vs NZ 1st T20I:
PAK vs NZ 1st T20I Squads
Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (C), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Reserves- Mohammad Ali, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman Ali Agha and Sahibzada Farhan
New Zealand Squad: Michael Bracewell (captain), Tom Blundell (replaced Finn Allen), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes (replaced Adam Milne), Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.
PAK vs NZ 1st T20I Probable Playing 11s
Pakistan’s Playing 11: Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah, Naseem Shah, Usama Mir, Mohammad Amir
New Zealand’s Playing 11: Tim Seifert, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Tom Blundell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Cole McConchie, Jacon Duffy, Ben Lister, Ish Sodhi
Broadcasting and Streaming Details
In Pakistan, the series will be accessible live and exclusively on A Sports HD. Cricket fans in India will not be able to see this series on television, but they can catch it live on the FANCODE app and website @89 exclusively.
Visit the PCB Official Website for More