Thursday, December 19

T20I series is very important for Pakistan

Pakistan captain Babar Azam believes the five-match T20I against New Zealand is of great importance in the build-up to the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Addressing a series of media conferences at the Rawalpindi Pindi Stadium on Wednesday, Babar Azam said, “This five-match T20I series is very important for us as we hope to prepare for the mega event. We hope to prove ourselves as a unit." Zealand will compete with us at different stages of the series and this is a good place for the Pakistan team. As a leader, I want to combine youth and experience. On the other hand, New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell said, “I am proud to lead the team on this journey. We will play entertaining cricket as a side and take the game forward. Most of the players in our squad have played a lot of T20 cricket growing up and are well equipped with knowledge of this format. Pakistan is a huge side at home and we will try to present challenges in the backyard.  Pakistan will begin their preparations for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday when they take on New Zealand in the first of five matches. The venue will host the matches on Saturday and Sunday, while the remaining two matches will be hosted at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday and Saturday next week. Babar Azam and Michael Bracewell were also involved in the photography of the previous series. This will be the third of the five-match series between the two teams in times in 12 months. Last year, Pakistan and New Zealand played out a 2-0 draw in Pakistan, while New Zealand won the series 4-1 at home earlier this year. Pakistan have named Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Irfan Khan and uncapped Usman Khan in the 17-man squad which also sees the return of Babar Azam as the white-ball captain. Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim also returned to the national colors along with fast bowler Naseem Shah. Naseem last featured in the 2023 ACC Asia Cup for Pakistan before suffering a shoulder injury against India in Colombo that ruled him out of the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and the tour of Australia and New Zealand. Azhar Mahmood will coach the men's national team of Pakistan for the first time in his career. The former test referee previously worked as the football coach of the national team in the period from 2016 to 2019. The descent is scheduled to take place at 19:00 local time, and the first touch down at 19:30 local time. Teams: Pakistan - Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan and Zaman Khan. New Zealand - Michael Bracewell (cap), Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O'Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Soddy and Zach Foulkes. Editor: Kamran Raja Pakistan captain Babar Azam believes the five-match T20I against New Zealand is of great importance in the build-up to the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Addressing a series of media conferences at the Rawalpindi Pindi Stadium on Wednesday, Babar Azam said, “This five-match T20I series is very important for us as we hope to prepare for the mega event.

We hope to prove ourselves as a unit.” Zealand will compete with us at different stages of the series and this is a good place for the Pakistan team. As a leader, I want to combine youth and experience. On the other hand, New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell said, “I am proud to lead the team on this journey. We will play entertaining cricket as a side and take the game forward. Most of the players in our squad have played a lot of T20 cricket growing up and are well equipped with knowledge of this format. Pakistan is a huge side at home and we will try to present challenges in the backyard.

Pakistan will begin their preparations for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday when they take on New Zealand in the first of five matches. The venue will host the matches on Saturday and Sunday, while the remaining two matches will be hosted at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday and Saturday next week. Babar Azam and Michael Bracewell were also involved in the photography of the previous series. This will be the third of the five-match series between the two teams in times in 12 months.

Last year, Pakistan and New Zealand played out a 2-0 draw in Pakistan, while New Zealand won the series 4-1 at home earlier this year. Pakistan have named Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Irfan Khan and uncapped Usman Khan in the 17-man squad which also sees the return of Babar Azam as the white-ball captain. Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim also returned to the national colors along with fast bowler Naseem Shah. Naseem last featured in the 2023 ACC Asia Cup for Pakistan before suffering a shoulder injury against India in Colombo that ruled him out of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the tour of Australia and New Zealand. Azhar Mahmood will coach the men’s national team of Pakistan for the first time in his career. The former test referee previously worked as the football coach of the national team in the period from 2016 to 2019. The descent is scheduled to take place at 19:00 local time, and the first touch down at 19:30 local time.

Teams Pakistan – Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan and Zaman Khan. New Zealand – Michael Bracewell (cap), Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Soddy and Zach Foulkes.

Editor: Kamran Raja