RAWALPINDI, Pakistan – 2009 champions Pakistan aim to tick all the right boxes in their preparations ahead of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup as they gear up for a five-match series against New Zealand led by comeback captain Babar Azam.
Rawalpindi will host the first three matches from Thursday. The remaining two matches will be held in Lahore on April 25 and 27 as both teams build up to the world tournament in the United States and the Caribbean in June.
Babar returns as the white-ball captain and will lead the team to a third consecutive T20 World Cup. He replaces Shaheen Shah Afridi, who lost 4-1 to the Black Caps in his debut series as Pakistan’s T20 captain earlier this year.
Babar led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2021, where they lost to eventual champions Australia, and also captained the team that was defeated by England in Melbourne in the 2022 edition.
Fast bowler Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim have come out of retirement after express fast bowler Haris Rauf was ruled out of the series due to a shoulder injury and Mohammad Nawaz was dropped.
The selectors rewarded several performers including the uncapped Usman Khan and Irfan Khan from the Pakistan Super League. The UAE banned Usman for five years after switching allegiance to his country of birth. After scoring back-to-back centuries for Multan Sultans in the PSL, he made it to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad.
“We have a very balanced team and in this team we have covered all aspects of the game,” said Azhar Mahmood, head coach of the series against New Zealand. “Of course, with the return of Amir and Imad we have an edge and we can use them at any time.”
Mahmood has been appointed on a temporary basis as Pakistan is still searching for a long-term head coach ahead of the T20 World Cup. Pakistan is scheduled to play a three-match T20I series in Ireland next month and four more matches against England are lined up before the team flies to America.
Mahmood said he wants to give players clarity of roles in the series against New Zealand and may rest key players including Babar to test the team’s depth.
“Of course, we are likely to rest Babar,” Mahmood said. “This is the best available talent we have picked. We will see how the series goes and what the conditions are.
Key players in New Zealand’s World Cup-bound squad, including captain Kane Williamson, Darryl Mitchell and Lock Ferguson, are playing in the Indian Premier League. Also, veteran Tim Southee, who was missing from the Pakistan tour, has been rested and Tom Latham has been given paternity leave.
New Zealand’s squad was further weakened last week when power-hitter Finn Allen and fast bowler Adam Milne were ruled out due to injuries sustained in the training camp.
The Black Caps will be led by Michael Bracewell, who has not played an international match since March 2023 after rupturing his right Achilles and then breaking a finger during a T20 blast.
Mark Chapman, who scored 290 runs in the drawn T20 series in Pakistan last year, hoped the likes of fast bowler Will O’Rourke and power-hitter Tim Robertson would do well.
“Any team that plays for New Zealand is the team most proud to represent our country,” Chapman said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to show the depth we’re building. Obviously the squad is generally pretty settled, but behind the scenes, there’s a lot of talent.
“Young players like Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke have played Test cricket this year and have really impressed. Also, Tim Robertson was excellent in Super Smash this year and the boys are really excited because they know a full-strength Pakistan team.
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