RAWALPINDI: With probably just a day left in Eidul Fitr, Babar Azam-led Pakistan are hoping to give the nation an Eid gift they would love to receive – a series victory – by defeating New Zealand in the PAK vs NZ 4th T20 here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
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After the action-filled first three T2OIs in Lahore, the Rawalpindi stadium awaits to welcome the two sides, especially their batters, for the last two matches of the five-game series.
The Green Shirts brought out their “A” game in front of a packed Gaddafi Stadium crowd, though they lost the last encounter when visitors snatched a close win by four runs and reduced the Pakistan vs New Zealand series deficit to 2-1.
However, greased-up Pakistan have a well-balanced playing lineup and all the necessary ingredients to counter the Blackcaps in every sphere of the game.
Babar and company look in sublime touch with the skipper leading the pack from the front. He remains the leading scorer for his side with 111 runs, including a phenomenal century in the second PAK vs NZ T20I.
Apart from Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed and young sensation Saim Ayub have also showcased their intent with the bat on different occasions.
On the bowling front, the Green Shirts will be rooting on Haris Rauf to do his business as usual as he has already picked up ten wickets in three games.
Also, the left-arm pacer Shaheen, who is playing his first international series since the T20 World Cup final last year, has also returned with his signature celebration style after giving the side an early breakthrough.
Promising Ihsanullah, Zaman Khan and Naseem Khan comprised the rest of Pakistan’s pace attack.
Moreover, Imad Wasim and vice-captain Shadab Khan were in charge of the spin department with both having the ability to dismiss the well-set batters.
Besides, it will also be a double delight for Babar if he wins today’s contest. He would take an insurmountable lead in the series and also set the record for the most number of T20I wins as a captain.
He would surpass Afghanistan’s Asghar Afghan and England’s Eoin Morgan after leading the side to its 43rd win under his captaincy.
Meanwhile, rejuvenated by their first-ever T20I victory in Pakistan, Blackcaps will look to drag the results till the final game of the series as they gained sufficient confidence from that stunning win on Monday despite Iftikhar Ahmed’s heroic knock of 24-ball 60.
Though the touring party is missing several of its key players including Kane Williamson Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Siefert, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, players like James Neesham, Mark Chapman and skipper Tom Latham have already shown what they are capable of.
Probable Playing XIs:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c & wk), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham. Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister.