PAK vs NZ: Exciting times ahead as New Zealand gears up for the second leg of their much-anticipated tour of Pakistan, scheduled from April 14 to May 7, 2023.
The upcoming leg will feature a thrilling lineup of five ODIs and T20Is each, following the conclusion of the first leg, which included two Tests back in January this year.
The Kiwis are all set to showcase their skills and compete fiercely in what promises to be a riveting series against Pakistan.
Watch PAK vs NZ Live Match in HD Streaming at ARY ZAP
After the recent series with Afghanistan, the Pakistan cricket team will feature a blend of senior and junior players under the leadership of Babar Azam, with the return of Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi to the squad. Shadab Khan will resume his role as the vice-captain.
Shaheen Shah Afridi had been sidelined due to a knee injury, causing him to miss five Tests and three ODIs against England and New Zealand after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022.
He had been undergoing rehabilitation after the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July. As a result, he also missed the second Test against Sri Lanka, the ODI series against the Netherlands, ACC Asia Cup in the UAE, and the seven-match T20I series in Pakistan.
However, the 22-year-old pacer, who has an impressive record of 99 Test, 62 ODI, and 58 T20I wickets, made a remarkable comeback in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8, where he inspired Lahore Qalandars to become the first side to successfully defend the title.
In addition to Shaheen Afridi, several other key players will also be returning to both the ODI and T20I squads for Pakistan. Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan, who had rested during last month’s three-T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah, will be back in action.
Meanwhile, three young talents – Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub, and Zaman Khan – have been retained in the T20I squad following their stellar performances in Sharjah. In a significant development, Ihsanullah has also been added to the ODI squad for the first time in his career, showcasing the team management’s confidence in the emerging players.
PAK vs NZ Schedule:
- 14 Apr – 1st T20I, Lahore
- 15 Apr – 2nd T20I, Lahore
- 17 Apr – 3rd T20I, Lahore
- 20 Apr – 4th T20I, Rawalpindi
- 24 Apr – 5th T20I, Rawalpindi
- 26 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
- 30 Apr – 2nd ODI, Karachi
- 3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi
- 5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi
- 7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi