KARACHI: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner is ready to embrace the challenge of facing Pakistan in the tri-nation series final here on Friday at National Bank Stadium.
Santner, in a press conference, acknowledged that his team faces an uphill battle against Pakistan, with the majority of the fans supporting the home team.
“Pakistan’s atmosphere is always enjoyable, new and packed stadiums are outstanding, we expect it same tomorrow,” said the skipper.
He stated that yesterday’s wicket was very flat; we expect another high-scoring game in the tri-nation series final.
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When asked about Pakistan’s batting and New Zealand playing XI in the final, he said a decision has not yet been made.
He also praised Muhammad Rizwan and Agha Salman for their brilliant batting against South Africa in a crucial encounter.
“We have not finalized our playing xi; Rizwan and Agha batted brilliantly,” remarked Santner
Mitchell Santner termed Kane Williamson a vital player in the final against Pakistan. He further highlighted the importance of middle overs, stating that wickets are key to slow the scoring.
“Wickets in the middle overs are the key to lowering the run rate. Williamson has been brilliant, and we expect another good performance from him in the final,” he said.
He also addressed the concerns regarding Rachin Ravindra’s health and the speculation surrounding him.
“Obviously, Rachin will not be available for tomorrow’s game, but he is in good spirits. We are closely monitoring his condition,” said Santner.
For the unversed, New Zealand reached the tri-nation series final comprehensively by beating Pakistan and South Africa. On the other hand, Pakistan bounced back against the Proteas after their highest run chase of 353 runs in an ODI match to secure a birth in the final.
New Zealand and Pakistan will also face each other on 19 February in the opening match of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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