Pakistan has put a lot of effort into its T20 World Cup preparations. They played five Twenty20 Internationals during their January tour to New Zealand, and then they competed in the Pakistan Super League. They will now play four more 20-over matches against England, host another five-match T20I series against New Zealand, and travel Ireland for three T20Is. Pakistan will be looking to make the most of this series, even if it will be against a largely subpar New Zealand side, in order to prepare for the ICC event that will take place in the West Indies and the United States of America starting on June 1.
In Pakistani cricket, things are always changing.
Since 2023, Pakistan will play New Zealand in three T20I series. Babar Azam was the captain when New Zealand came to the country in April 2023 and tied the series 2-2. Babar stepped down as captain of all forms following their poor performance in the 50-over World Cup, and Shaheen Afridi was appointed captain of the Twenty20 international team for their tour of New Zealand. Zaka Ashraf was the PCB chairman at the time. After Pakistan lost four games under the new captain, Babar returned to the captaincy immediately after Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi was chosen as the PCB’s new chairman.
Wahab Riaz, Asad Shafiq, Abdul Razzaq, and Muhammad Yousuf have been included to the new selection committee. Additionally, the coaching staff has changed as well. During the 2023 World Cup, Mickey Arthur, Andrew Puttick, Grant Bradburn, and Morne Morkel were part of the team. During the tours of Australia and New Zealand, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, and Adam Hollioake were among the coaching group members in addition to Mohammad Hafeez, who served as the team director. And now Wahab Riaz has been appointed team manager, Mohammad Yousuf has taken over as batting coach, Saeed Ajmal is still the spin coach, and Azhar Mahmood has been introduced as the new head coach.
Off the field, a lot has been going on, which is typical of Pakistani cricket. After Babar was brought back, the PCB was even compelled to have crisis talks because of a claim made by Shaheen that the left-arm pacer denied. Although there has been a strange quiet for a while, turmoil is always possible in Pakistani cricket. In an attempt to refocus attention on cricket, they will be praying that the impending T20 World Cup doesn’t disturb the players or the team atmosphere.
Returns and unretirements, as well as fresh faces
This is also not a novel development in Pakistani cricket. players declaring their retirements, then eventually coming back to the squad. The newest members of the group, Imad Wasim and Mohammed Amir, will be eager to create an impression given the upcoming global event. “Considering their selection status, Haris Rauf’s injury, and Muhammad Nawaz’s current form, it was an easy decision to include Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir. Unquestionably, Amir and Imad can win games. We believe they will continue to put in great performances to support the team’s goals “Wahab was cited as saying.
In nine PSL 2024 matches, the 32-year-old Amir claimed 10 wickets for the Quetta Gladiators, averaging 28.60 with an economy of 8.41. In the PSL, Wasim took 12 wickets at an average of 20.91 with an economy of 6.60, including one fifer. Together with his 126 runs, which included a half-century, he helped Islamabad United win the championship.
Usman Khan and Muhammad Irfan Khan are the other two uncapped players on Pakistan’s 17-man roster. Usman, 28, scored 430 runs in just seven innings at an average of 107.50 and a strike rate of 164.12, including two hundreds and two fifties, making him the second-highest run scorer in the PSL. Irfan, 21, played eight innings for the Karachi Kings and scored 171 runs with a strike percentage of 140.16 and an average of 42.75.
A moment for Kiwi athletes to advocate for the World Cup
In the meantime, the New Zealand squad captained by Michael Bracewell will be keen to deliver strong performances in the big names’ absence and make themselves a contender for the big event selection. When the team was originally chosen for this series, up to 12 players were unavailable. While Will Young (winter contract with Nottinghamshire), Tom Latham (awaiting birth of second child), Tim Southee (conditioning), Colin Munro, and Devon Conway (injury) were away on IPL duty, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, and Kane Williamson were also not available for selection.
Before the team left for Pakistan, pacer Adam Milne (ankle injury) and opener Finn Allen (back injury) were ruled out, severely hampering New Zealand. The team’s replacements were uncapped all-rounder Zak Foulkes and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. With rookie Tim Robinson and Will O’Rourke, uncapped in the format, also included in the setup, it will be a new-look side.
Squads:
Pakistan: Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohmmad Amir.
Michael Bracewell (captain), Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), and Ish Sodhi are the New Zealand players.
Timetable:
April 18 – First T20I, Rawalpindi, 7:00 PM Local Time
April 20–2nd T20I, Rawalpindi, 7:00 PM Local Time
April 21, 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi, 7:00 PM Local Time
April 25–4 T20I, Lahore, 7:00 p.m. local time
T20I, April 27–5, 7:00 p.m. local time in Lahore
