In preparation for the T20 World Cup, Pakistan will play New Zealand with captain Babar Azam back
With the World Cup only weeks away, Pakistan will play a five-match Twenty20 series led by Babar Azam against an undermatched New Zealand, with the first encounter taking place on Thursday.
Azam abruptly reclaimed the leadership last month, ending Shaheen Shah Afridi’s brief reign and igniting apprehension among the players.
The hosts anticipate that their time together at an army base fitness camp will have fostered strong bonds.
Head coach Azhar Mahmood said on Tuesday that they are thinking a lot about the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the United States and the West Indies in June.
“We will overcome all the shortcomings so that we can do our best in the World Cup,” he told AFP. “I have full faith in the selected squad and the morale is very high in the team.”
“In the Twenty20 format, you can’t take any team lightly. If New Zealand is missing some of their key players, that presents an opportunity for their younger players.”
Following their elimination in the first round of the 2018 One-Day World Cup, Pakistan experienced significant turmoil.
Azam resigned from his position as captain for all three forms, while Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and head coach Mickey Arthur also quit.
The country’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, became chairman of the board and restructured the selection committee, allowing batsman Azam to rejoin.
In this series, fast bowler Mohammad Amir and spinning all-rounder Imad Wasim both make their comebacks to the Indian cricket team.
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Young New Zealand
After sending a security team last month, New Zealand finally made landfall this past weekend.
The Black Caps canceled their tour to Pakistan in 2021 at the last minute due to security concerns, but they made two trips back in 2023.
The Indian Premier League is keeping nine of New Zealand’s best players out of the lineup, including captain Kane Williamson.
Michael Bracewell, the interim captain, says it’s an opportunity for the younger players.
“I believe the young players have progressed and have engaged in a lot of T20 cricket as a child,” Bracewell, who has made a comeback after a year-long physical absence, said.
“They have new ideas about how the game should be played, so let’s just try to play our game as a group.”
Tim Southee, the fastest bowler in Twenty20 international history with 157 wickets, gets rested.
One day before to the team’s departure, Finn Allen and Adam Milne, two seasoned players, were hurt.
In T20s, seamer Will O’Rourke, hard-hitting batsman Tim Robinson, and all-rounder Zac Foulkes are uncapped.
The series’ last two games are held in Lahore after the first three are held in Rawalpindi.
Groups (from):
Pakistan: Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan, Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohmmad Amir, Irfan Niazi, Babar Azam (captain),
New Zealand: Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Zac Foulkes, Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Bracewell (captain),
