PAK vs NZ: 2022 T20 World Cup runners-up Pakistan are all set to lock horns against New Zealand in a five-match T20i series that will start today. The first T20i is going to be played today at Auckland’s Eden Park Stadium.
Pakistani Seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi will start his T20i captaincy reign in the 1st T20i, while on the other hand, New Zealand Captain Kane Williamson will be making his comeback to the shortest format of the game. The 33-year-old hasn’t featured in any T20 international game for the Black Caps since November 2022.
Talking about the Head 2 Head record between Pakistan and New Zealand in T20i’s, the two sides have played a total of 34 matches against each other, and Pakistan have tasted success in 20 matches, whereas the Kiwis have managed to win just 13 T20i matches against Pakistan. One match between both teams ended without a result due to rain.
Under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Men in Green would like to continue their dominance against New Zealand by winning the five-match T20i series. But it won’t be easy because the Black Caps are a very tough team to beat, and it would be even more difficult to defeat New Zealand in their home conditions.
Both teams have many match-winners in their respective squads who would like to perform well in the first T20i and help their respective teams start the five-match T20i series on a good note.
Match Information
Tour: Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand
Match: Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st T20i
Date: January 12, 2024
Day and Time: Friday, 11:40 am IST
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Pitch Report
The pitch in Auckland for the 1st T20i is anticipated to provide assistance to batters, and the highest number of runs scored by a team at Eden Park is 245 runs, which were scored by the Aussies against New Zealand in 2018. Seamers are expected to get some swing with the new ball, while spinners are anticipated to keep the run rate in check. 154 runs is the average first-inning score at this venue.
Weather Forecast
It will be a perfect day to play cricket, as the weather for the 1st T20i is expected to be a bright sunny day with a rainfall percentage of just 5%. Humidity is anticipated to be around 63% with a wind speed of 14 KM per hour.
Where and how can I watch the first T20i match between Pakistan and New Zealand?
One can watch the 1st T20i between Pakistan and New Zealand on Amazon Prime Video. The T20i series is not going to be broadcast live on any channel.
Predicted Playing 11 of both teams
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Babar Azam,Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi (Captain), Usama Mir, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (WK), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (Captain), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Mark Chapman, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi.
Full Squads of both teams
Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Captain), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (WK), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, Abrar Ahmed and Zaman Khan
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain) (except 3rd T20I), Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson (Only for 3rd T20I), Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ben Sears (Only for 1st and 2nd T20I), Lockie Ferguson (Only for 3rd, 4th & 5th T20I)
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