Pakistan’s cricket team is expected to make only a few changes for their T20I matches against New Zealand, despite their recent series loss to Afghanistan. Sources suggest that Usama Mir, Haseebullah, and Abrar Ahmed are all in contention for selection. However, when it comes to the upcoming ODI series, the team is expected to field a strong combination of senior players, with no experiments planned. This decision has been made with an eye on the preparations for the 2023 World Cup.
To help the players prepare for the upcoming matches, a training camp is expected to be held at the National Cricket Academy from April 7 or 8. Both the T20I and ODI squads will train together during this period. After the selected T20I players depart, the rest of the players will continue to train at the Academy in preparation for the ODI matches. Due to Ramadan, training sessions are expected to be held at night. The final decision regarding the training schedule will be made after consultation with the team’s captain and management.
Babar Azam has been confirmed as Pakistan’s captain for both formats against New Zealand, dispelling earlier reports that he might be given further rest. Pakistan’s recent all-round performance helped them avoid a series whitewash against Afghanistan. They displayed a decent performance in the third and final game of the series, with their bowlers defending 183 runs and helping the team beat Afghanistan by 66 runs. This win helped Pakistan finish the series on a high note.
The T20I series against Afghanistan was Pakistan’s first since their T20 World Cup campaign in Australia last year, where they finished as runners-up. The schedule for the upcoming Pakistan v New Zealand matches has also been released, with the first T20I taking place in Lahore on April 14. The remaining T20I matches will also be held in Lahore and Rawalpindi. The ODI matches will be held in Rawalpindi and Karachi, with the final match scheduled for May 7 in Karachi.
Overall, the Pakistani cricket team is gearing up for a challenging set of matches against New Zealand. With a mix of experienced senior players and promising young talents, the team will be hoping to put in strong performances across all formats of the game.
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