Pakistan-New Zealand Series in New Zealand

[ghazi52]

Pakistan announces 17-man squad for New Zealand T20I series​

Dawn.com
December 19, 2023

Pakistan chief selector Wahab Riaz and Kamran Akmal in Lahore.—Photo courtesy CB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced a 17-man squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, which will take place in January.

In a press release, the PCB said that pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi would lead the Pakistan squad for the first time.

It said that the series marked the start of Pakistan’s preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to take place in June 2024.

The PCB said right-arm pacer Mohammad Abbas Afridi, wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah and leg-spinner Usama Mir had earned their maiden call-up to the T20I team following “commendable”runs during the domestic season.

“Sahibzada Farhan, who made his T20I debut for Pakistan in 2018, has also returned to the squad after he impressed with the bat in the National T20 Cup 2023-24,” it said.

The PCB said that uncapped Abrar Ahmed and Azam Khan, who last featured for Pakistan against Afghanistan in March 2023, had also been named in the squad.

Meanwhile, Pakistan opted for six pace bowling options by including Aamir Jamal, Zaman Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Abbas Afridi and Shaheen.

It said that Naseem Shah, Ihsanullah and Shadab Khan would not be part of the squad due to injuries.

“Shan Masood, Mohammad Haris and Faheem Ashraf, who were part of Pakistan’s squad during the last bilateral series, miss out on the tour,” the PCB added.

The cricket board said that Pakistan’s T20I tour of New Zealand would comprise five matches, to be played from January 12 to January 21. It further said that Pakistan would be touring New Zealand immediately after wrapping up the Test tour of Australia.

The press release quoted PCB Chief Selector Wahab Riaz as saying that it was imperative to nurture young talent as they had to represent Pakistan going forward.

“This is the best pool of players but we also want to build back-ups. We have to explore our new talent and see what kind of performances they are capable of producing. Going forward, we need to understand our back-up options in our player pool and promote domestic performers,” he said.

He further said that Mohammad Haris had been rested during this series.

“We are well aware of his capabilities and he is part of our plans going forward. Shan Masood is also part of our plans and likewise has been rested for this series. We will call him up if we require him to fill any gaps in the team,” he said.

Full squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan

 

[ghazi52]

Southee hits milestone as New Zealand beat Pakistan in first T20​

AFP
January 12, 2024

Tim Southee became the first player to 150 wickets in Twenty20 internationals as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs on Friday in their series opener in Auckland.

Veteran seam bowler Southee claimed four wickets to pass the milestone and help dismiss the tourists for 180 in the 18th over in response to New Zealand’s imposing 226-8, handing them first blood in the five-match series.

Southee’s figures of 4-25 were the best of a run-dominated encounter at Eden Park and took him to 151 wickets in T20 internationals, 11 more than Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan.

He finished the job as Pakistan’s run chase capitulated after Babar Azam was the seventh wicket to fall in the 17th over, with the former captain having accelerated to 57 off 35 balls to keep his side in contention.

There were starts for openers Saim Ayub (27) and Mohammad Rizwan (25) but Azam struggled to find support from his teammates before being caught at cover by Kane Williamson off Ben Sears’ bowling.
New Zealand’s boundary-laden innings was the highest Pakistan had conceded in a T20, surpassing the 221-3 England scored in Karachi in 2022.

Daryl Mitchell blasted 61 off 27 balls and captain Williamson’s 57 took 42 balls as New Zealand built on an explosive start from opener Finn Allen (34), who struck 24 runs off the third over, bowled by Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Pakistan’s new-look attack struggled to protect the ground’s notoriously short boundaries, conceding 21 fours and 11 sixes.

Seamer Abbas Afridi impressed in his first international appearance in any format with 3-34 off four overs, although fellow-debutant Usama Mir had his leg spin attacked by Mitchell in particular and finished with 0-51.

Shaheen, who took 3-46, led Pakistan for the first time after Babar forfeited the captaincy in the wake of their failure to make last year’s 50-over Cricket World Cup semi-finals.

New Zealand spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner wasn’t selected after testing positive for Covid-19 earlier in the day.

Southee hits milestone as New Zealand beat Pakistan in first T20

New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs, dismissing Pakistan for 180 in the 18th over.

www.dawn.com

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

New Zealand beat Pakistan by 21 runs to take control of T20 series​

Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman score half-centuries as Pakistan dismissed for 173 in final over.

 

[Abid123]

Lmao. These guys can't stop taking L's. Kirkat....

New Zealand population: 5 million
Main sport: Rugby

Pakistan population: 240 million
Main sport: "Kirkat"

Yet these shameless **** will even lose the upcoming matches.

 

[ghazi52]

Allen’s record 137 gives New Zealand series-clinching Pakistan T20 win​

AFP
January 17, 2024

New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi (L) and Finn Allen celebrate their win at the end of the third Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan University Oval in Dunedin on January 17. — AFP

Fakhar Zaman bats during the third Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan University Oval in Dunedin on January 17. — AFP

New Zealand sealed their T20 series against Pakistan with two games to spare on Wednesday on the back of a record 137 off 62 balls by opener Finn Allen at University Oval in Dunedin.

The Black Caps, sent in to bat in game three of the five-match series, won by 45 runs after posting a colossal 224 for seven and restricting Pakistan to 179 for seven.

It followed their victories by 46 and 21 runs respectively in the first two matches.

The swashbuckling Allen, following on from his 74 off 21 balls in game two, frequently belted the ball out of the ground as he smashed 16 sixes and five fours in his whirlwind innings.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan beat New Zealand in fifth T20 but lose series 4-1​

Shaheen says it was “very important” for the team avoided a whitewash.

 

[Mav3rick]

Lmao. These guys can't stop taking L's. Kirkat....

New Zealand population: 5 million
Main sport: Rugby

Pakistan population: 240 million
Main sport: "Kirkat"

Yet these shameless **** will even lose the upcoming matches.

New Zealand's population of 5 million would have more professional athletes than entire Pakistan combined. It's simply because they have the quality of life and the resources. Our sportsmen are self funded and lack even basic facilities. It does not make sense to compare the athletes of the 2 countries.

Moreover, the same New Zealand side has often defeated a country with a population of 1.4 Billion too!!!

What you can blame really, is team selection.

 

[Goenitz]

Mohsin naqvi is the new PCB chairman. I wonder why not another gen! Perhaps, it will be but BCCi and India will make a mockery out of it.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan series ‘awesome opportunity’ for depleted NZ: Allen​

Agencies
April 6, 2024

Despite eight of their senior players set to miss the upcoming five-match Twenty20 International series against Pakistan, New Zealand opener Finn Allen believes the BlackCaps would still be a handful for the Babar Azam-led hosts.

New Zealand will be without the likes of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner and Kane Williamson, with all engaged in the ongoing Indian Premier League, when they land in Rawalpindi ahead of the first T20, scheduled for April 18.

“It is an awesome opportunity with players being away at the IPL, for young guys such as Tim Robinson, who have shown their talent and had a good Super Smash tournament here in New Zealand during the summer,” Allen was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency on Friday.

“… it is rewarding for those guys and allows them to get an opportunity at the top level to see where they stand against a formidable Pakistan side,” he said.

All-rounder Michael Bracewell will be leading the side. He has not been seen in international cricket since March last year following a ruptured Achilles and a broken finger and returned to domestic engagements only recently.

“I guess with the upcoming series, we batted out with them at home not too long ago but it is on their turf now and we know from tours in the past, that they are pretty tough to beat at home,” the 24-year-old said.

“Hopefully, Mark Chapman can pull through for the boys again like last time, but I think it will be a good challenge and a good series,” he added.

Other first-choice players like Devon Conway, Will Young, Tim Southee, Colin Munro and Tom Latham are also missing for various reasons including injuries.

The big-hitting Allen, who has played 43 T20Is and has the highest score by a New Zealander in the format, all-rounder Jimmy Neesham and veteran spinner Ish Sodhi would be expected to be the guiding force for the side.

“… conditions will definitely be different, every game is a new game, and you have to start again, so I am looking forward to the challenges and different conditions, and seeing what we can come up with,” he said of his own role.

Allen hoped that a solid performance against Pakistan would also help him in T20 World Cup selection.

“Every chance you get to play for New Zealand or represent your country is a try-out, and an opportunity to showcase your skills…hopefully, selection takes care of itself, just clear minded on going over to Pakistan and trying to contribute to winning a series,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2024

 

[ghazi52]

PCB announces 17-man squad for New Zealand T20I series​

Dawn.com | Reuters
April 9, 2024

The men’s cricket team selection committee’s hold a press conference at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. — Photo courtesy PCB


The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced the 17-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

The five-match series will be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18-27.

In a press release, the cricket board stated that uncapped middle-order batsmen Muhammad Irfan Khan and opener Usman Khan had “earned the selectors’ nod” following their impressive performances in the most recent edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Also included in the squad were wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed, all-rounder Imad Wasim and fast bowler Mohammad Amir.

Imad and Amir had both recently decided to take back their retirement from international cricket last month and were also part of the training camp organised by the army in Kakul.

Hard-hitting batter Usman Khan, who was banned from Emirati cricket for five years earlier this month, was also included in the squad. Babar Azam will be leading the squad after replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi, also included in the team, as the T20I captain.

Selection committee member and senior team manager Wahab Riaz said that the decision to include Imad and Amir “was a straightforward one, given their availability for selection and considering Haris Rauf’s injury and Mohammad Nawaz’s current form”.

“Both Amir and Imad possess undeniable match-winning capabilities, and we trust they will consistently deliver strong performances to bolster the team’s objectives,” Riaz was quoted as saying by the PCB.

Mohammad Yousuf, selection committee member and batting coach, meanwhile, congratulated Irfan and Usman on their selection, adding that they had “undeniably earned their spots through a string of consistent, outstanding performances”.

Yousuf also said that that they were optimistic about the players and their potential to become “key impact players”, adding that he trusted that they will their “upward trajectory, sparing no effort in proving themselves worthy of the selectors’ and captain’s trust and confidence”.

The PCB quoted Irfan as saying that he was “deeply honoured” to have been selected.

“Breaking into such a formidable team like Pakistan is a testament to the dedication and effort I have put into my game. Now, my focus is on seizing this opportunity and solidifying my position within the team,” he asserted.

“I am fully committed to continuing to work diligently and proving myself worthy of the trust placed in me by the captain and selectors,” he said.

Usman also expressed gratitude at being chosen in the squad.

“This selection validates the relentless effort and dedication I have poured into my craft, and I am fully committed to upholding the high standards I have set for myself,” he said.

The selection team also held a press conference in Lahore where they were asked about the inclusion of Azam Khan and his fitness. Bilal Afzal, another member of the selection committee, highlighted Azam’s performance statistics, and the strategies devised by the coach and captain.

Afzal asserted that the committee thought to give Azam a “big fair chance”, expressing the hope that his confidence would build up in the run up to the T20 World Cup.

Asked whether Babar’s captaincy was limited to the end of the New Zealand series, Wahab noted that the batsman was the white-ball captain. He further said that discussions were ongoing on deciding the vice captain.

“We want somebody to stand by Babar, and for that, we are looking at everything that is in the team’s benefit,” the senior team manager said.

Responding to another question, he said, “When announcing the captain for the World Cup, we wanted him to be a very experienced player who has been in captaincy so there was no better choice than Babar.”

Calling Babar “one of the best players in the team and most experienced player”, Wahab acknowledged that he had not won any major tournament yet but there was “always room for improvement”.

He also justified the selection of Usman. “Usman has been scoring runs for the last two-three years so he deserved selection and if there are any other issues Pakistan Cricket Board will be dealing with them,” he said.

Team
Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohmmad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan.

 

[JaneBhiDoYaaron]

Looking forward to competitive series specially after Pakistan military took fitness and discipline of Pakistani cricket team in their hands.

Chak de phatte!​

 

[ghazi52]

Irfan, Usman earn maiden calls as Pakistan announce squad for New Zealand series​

BR Web Desk
April 9, 2024

https://defencepk.com/forums/javascript:void(0)
Uncapped middle-order batter Muhammad Irfan Khan and opener Usman Khan have been named in the 17-player Pakistan men’s cricket team for the T20I series against New Zealand.

The five-match T20I series will be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18 to 27.

The two players have earned the selectors’ nod following impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League.

Irfan Khan of Karachi Kings was adjudged the Emerging Player and Best Fielder of PSL 9 after scoring 171 runs at a strike rate of 140.16. Overall, the 21-year-old Mianwali-born Irfan has featured in 34 T20s in which he has scored 499 runs at a strike rate of 135.96. Irfan has also represented Pakistan in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cups 2020 and 2022.

Usman Khan of Multan Sultans smashed two centuries and two half-centuries in the recent event to help his side reach the final where they lost to Islamabad United in a last-ball thriller.

In PSL 8, the 28-year-old Karachi-born right-hander had smashed a 36-ball century against Quetta Gladiators – the fastest century in the tournament history. Overall, Usman has featured in 36 T20s in which he has scored 1,207 runs at a strike rate of 146.12.

Irfan was elated about his selection and expressed his resolve to continue to work diligently and prove myself worthy of the trust placed in me by the captain and selectors.

“I am deeply honoured to have been selected in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Breaking into such a formidable team like Pakistan is a testament to the dedication and effort I have put into my game. Now, my focus is on seizing this opportunity and solidifying my position within the team.

“I am fully committed to continuing to work diligently and proving myself worthy of the trust placed in me by the captain and selectors.”

Meanwhile, Usman Khan, who gave up his contract with the UAE cricket board to play for Pakistan, said it was his dream goal to represent Pakistan.

“Being chosen to represent one’s country is the ultimate dream and goal for any athlete. Today, I am thrilled and filled with joy as the selectors have granted me the opportunity to be part of the upcoming series against New Zealand. This selection validates the relentless effort and dedication I have poured into my craft, and I am fully committed to upholding the high standards I have set for myself.”

Abrar retained, Imad and Mohammad Amir recalled

The other uncapped player in the squad is wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed. He was named in the squad for the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year, but returned after Australia Tests due to fitness reasons. He will be the second wrist spinner in the side along with Usama Mir.

Also named in the squad are all-rounder Imad Wasim and fast bowler Mohammad Amir. The two experienced campaigners became available after coming out of retirement last month.

Imad has played 66 T20Is in which he has scored 486 runs at a strike rate of 131.7 and taken 65 wickets at an economy of 6.26. He last played for Pakistan 12 months ago at his home ground in Rawalpindi against New Zealand.

Amir, who last played for Pakistan in August 2020 at Old Trafford against England, has played in 50 T20Is in which he has taken 59 wickets at an economy of 7.02.

Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is:

• Babar Azam (captain)
• Abrar Ahmed
• Azam Khan
• Fakhar Zaman
• Iftikhar Ahmed
• Imad Wasim
• Mohammad Abbas Afridi
• Mohammad Rizwan
• Mohmmad Amir
• Muhammad Irfan Khan
• Naseem Shah
• Saim Ayub
• Shadab Khan
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
• Usama Mir
• Usman Khan
• Zaman Khan

Non-travelling reserves:

• Haseebullah
• Mohammad Ali
• Mohammad Wasim Jnr
• Sahibzada Farhan
• Salman Ali Agha

 

[newb3e]

aaasssimm the amazing planner trained the boys for PR now NZ sent 4th team PK will kick their arses and asssssim will demand them to do pushup and praise kakuli training!!!


what peeelaaaning!

 

[ghazi52]

Tom Blundell, Zak Foulkes called up for New Zealand T20 tour of Pakistan as injuries hit Black Caps​

Blundell and Foulkes will respectively replace promising batter Finn Allen and veteran paceman Adam Milne.