AUCKLAND: New Zealand’s Pakistan Test-bound players on Wednesday left for the country to play the historic Test series, which will roll into action on December 26 at the National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi.

According to the details, the New Zealand Test squad departed from Auckland Airport and will travel to Dubai first and will then reach Karachi tomorrow at 11 AM tomorrow.

The touring side will play two Tests and a three-match ODI series from December 26 to January 14.

Karachi will host the first Test and ODI series, while Multan will host the second Test.

 

Veteran pacer Tim Southee will lead the touring side in the longest format after Kane Williamson stepped down from the position last week.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Blackcaps pulled out of their scheduled Pakistan tour minutes before the commencement of the first ODI in Rawalpindi on September 17, 2021, and opted to return home, citing security concerns.

The cancellation also resulted in England withdrawing from their tour to Pakistan, which was scheduled a month later than that of New Zealand.

Following this challenging phase for Pakistan Cricket, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja announced to address the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) at the International Cricket Council (ICC) and ask the NZC to pay the compensation.

Consequently, the NZC paid the compensation in May 2022 for abruptly pulling out of the tour at the eleventh hour which played a crucial role in restoring the working relationship between the two cricket boards.

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