Pakistan, under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi, is gearing up for a thrilling five-match T20 International series against New Zealand.
The cricketing action is set to kick off on January 12 at the iconic Eden Park in Auckland, with the first ball of the match scheduled to be bowled at 1110 PKT. This marks a significant moment as it will be Shaheen Shah Afridi’s inaugural assignment as captain, succeeding the accomplished Babar Azam.
The last time Pakistan engaged in T20Is was back in April 2023, where they faced New Zealand in a five-match series hosted in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
The team, currently ranked fourth, is eager to showcase their T20 prowess and build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who has been named vice-captain under Shaheen’s captaincy, emerged as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the previous series. The fiery right-arm pacer Haris Rauf played a pivotal role as the most successful bowler during that assignment.
As the team prepares for the upcoming series, some new faces and familiar returns bring depth and versatility to the squad. Uncapped players, including leg-spinner Usama Mir, pacer Mohammad Abbas Afridi, and wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah, are set to make their mark.
Additionally, the returning trio of Sahibzada Farhan, Azam Khan, and Aamir Jamal adds experience and strength to the squad.
However, spinner Abrar Ahmed, initially part of the squad, will be missing out due to an injury sustained last month during Pakistan’s Test tour of Australia. Despite this setback, the team remains focused and optimistic under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi.
In a recent pre-series press conference, Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed his pride and honor in captaining Pakistan. He acknowledged the team’s reputation as a formidable T20 side and emphasized their commitment to achieving desired results in major tournaments.
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon later this year, Shaheen outlined the team’s strategy of ensuring a well-defined combination while also nurturing a robust bench to address any potential injuries during the tournament.
The squad for the New Zealand tour boasts a blend of experience and youth, reflecting Pakistan’s commitment to nurturing talent. The roster includes Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicket-keeper), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan.
With a challenging schedule ahead, including matches at iconic venues like Seddon Park, University Oval, and Hagley Oval, the series promises high-octane cricketing action. The schedule of the series is as follows:
1st T20: January 12, 2024, at Eden Park, Auckland
2nd T20: January 14, 2024, at Seddon Park, Hamilton
3rd T20: January 17, 2024, at University Oval, Dunedin
4th T20: January 19, 2024, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
5th T20: January 21, 2024, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
As fans eagerly await the commencement of this series, all eyes will be on Shaheen Shah Afridi and his team as they aim to secure victory and fine-tune their strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup.
