KARACHI: Uncapped Usama Mir is set to make his maiden appearance for the Green Shirts in the first One-Day international against New Zealand on Monday (today).
Usama, 27, will receive the ODI cap today in the series opener at National Bank Cricket Arena as he becomes the 239th player to represent Pakistan in the format.
Wrist spinner Usama was named in the squad after producing stellar performances in the recently-concluded Pakistan Cup where he took 28 wickets to finish as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.
The three-match series against Blackcaps gives Pakistan an opportunity to dethrone the visitors and secure the top position in the ODI rankings.
The Green Shirts are currently fifth on the list with 107 rating points. If Pakistan clean sweep the series, they will jump to the number one spot with 114 rating points.
With one eye on this year’s 50-over ACC Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the Babar-led side will look to extend its unbeaten run in the 50-over format during the upcoming home assignment.
Men in Green won all three series they played last year. They beat Australia and the West Indies at home, before a 3-0 triumph in the Netherlands. The Green Shirts whitewashed the opponents in the last two series, maintaining a fabulous streak of eight straight ODI wins.
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