In the first T20I of the five-match series, which will be played on Friday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan has won the toss and chosen to bat first against New Zealand.
Following the T20 series, Pakistan and New Zealand will play five one-day internationals to hone their strategies for this year’s 50-over World Cup in India.
Since Babar Azam was rested for the T20 Internationals against Afghanistan, Pakistan has selected a squad at full strength for the series.
Azam also became the third Pakistani player to appear in 100 T20 international games.
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣th T20I appearance ✅@babarazam258 becomes the third ???????? player to feature in ???? T20Is ????#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/eSA68E2zIX
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 14, 2023
The Men in Green, who finished second to England in the T20 World Cup held in Australia last year, are also pleased to welcome back important players Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf.
Shaheen will participate in his first international game following a World Cup final knee injury.
With former New Zealand all-rounder Grant Bradburn replacing Abdur Rehman as head coach for the 10 games, Pakistan now has a new coaching staff.
Kane Williamson’s serious knee injury and the absence of eight Kiwis from the team due to the Indian Premier League (IPL) give batsman Tom Latham the captaincy, giving newcomers plenty of chances to shine.
Squads
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
New Zealand: Tom Latham (wk/c), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister
