Pakistan To Face New Zealand In Rawalpindi For 1st T20i Today

Rawalpindi is set to host the T20I series kickoff between Pakistan and New Zealand on April 18, marking the teams’ first encounter in months. Led by Babar Azam, the Pakistani team aims to dominate against the relatively inexperienced Black Caps at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which is known for its batting-friendly pitch and high scoring potential.

Babar Azam, alongside Mohammad Rizwan, is expected to lead the batting charge in what will be Azhar Mahmood’s debut series as the head coach of the Pakistan team. The squad is bolstered by the return of players like Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, with additional spotlight on Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman.

Read more: Pakistan Reveals T20 Series Squad Against New Zealand

On the opposing side, Michael Bracewell captains a New Zealand team that includes established players such as Jimmy Neesham, Mark Chapman, Tom Blundell, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi, along with others who have proven their mettle in New Zealand’s domestic circuits.

The initial three matches of the series will take place in Rawalpindi, with Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium scheduled to host the final two games on April 25 and 27. All matches are set to start at 8 PM IST.

The squads for both teams are as follows:
Pakistan includes Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, and Abrar Ahmed.

New Zealand’s team features Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Tom Blundell, Dean Foxcroft, Michael Bracewell (captain), Jimmy Neesham, Ben Lister, Ben Sears, and Ish Sodhi.