New Zealand vs Pakistan Archives

Kyle Mills included as PCB unveils commentary panel for New Zealand series

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, unveiled the seven-member commentary panel for the home white ball series against New Zealand, which also featured former Kiwi pacer, Kyle Mills.

Pakistan men’s cricket team are up for a major white-ball assignment as the green shirts take on New Zealand in a five-match each T20I and ODI series, scheduled from April 14 to May 7.

According to the PCB, Pakistan’s renowned commentators Bazid Khan, Sikander Bakht and Urooj Mumtaz will be joined by their Kiwi counterparts Mills, Grant Elliot, Lisa Sthalekar and Mark Butcher.

Former pacer Mills will only be available to commentate during the T20I series while Lisa Sthalekar and Mark Butcher will call action across the ODI series.

Renowned presenter Zainab Abbas will host pre- and post-match shows, including Pitch Side which will continue to bring in-depth analysis for cricket fans.

Twenty-seven full High-Definition cameras will beam live action around the globe through PCB’s broadcast partners. The production set-up includes complete Hawkeye review system, buggy cam and SpiderCam, which is available for three T20Is in Lahore and three ODIs in Karachi.

New Zealand will arrive in Pakistan in the wee hours of 11 April. The two teams will play first three of the five T20Is in Lahore. Rawalpindi will host the last two T20Is and the first two ODIs, before the action moves to the port-city of Karachi, which hosts last three ODIs.

READ: Rehan-ul-Haq named in newly-appointed Pakistan team management

Rehan-ul-Haq named in newly-appointed Pakistan team management

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, unveiled the team management for the upcoming home white-ball series against New Zealand, scheduled to commence on April 14.

Renowned analyst, who previously served as the General Manager of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United, has been named as the manager of the national men’s team.

Rehan replaced Mansoor Rana as the national team’s manager.

Besides Rehan, the PCB also confirmed the support and coaching staff for the national team.

Grant Bradburn, the national men’s team’s potential assistant coach will take up the reins of the head coach while Abdul Rehman will serve as his assistant coach following the former’s arrival. Whereas, Andrew Puttick will serve as the batting coach.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul, who was named as the bowling coach in the team’s coaching setup for the recently-held Afghanistan series will continue his new role with the national team.

According to the details, a few changes are expected in the recently-announced management following the arrival of Mickey Arthur.

Meanwhile, the PCB also confirmed that Bradburn and Mr Puttick have been appointed for the New Zealand series and will arrive in Lahore on 11 April.

The PCB will confirm the Pakistan team management for the post-New Zealand series following the completion of the relevant recruitment processes, which are presently ongoing.

Pakistan Squads:

T20I: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan

ODI: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir. Reserves: Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Tayyab Tahir

Player Support Personnel

Rehan Ul Haq (manager), Grant Bradburn (head coach), Abdul Rehman (assistant to head coach), Andrew Puttick (batting coach), Umar Gul (bowling coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saaimon (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ijaz (analyst), Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi (media and digital manager), Major (retd) Azhar Arif (security manager), Ammar Ahsan (videographer), Dr Najeeb Soomro (team doctor) and Malang Ali (masseur).

Series 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
27 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
29 Apr – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi
5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi
7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi

Rehman to supervise national team’s training camp for New Zealand series

LAHORE: Pakistan’s head coach for the recently-concluded T20I series against Afghanistan Abdul Rehman will supervise the national men’s team’s training camp for the home T20I series against New Zealand.

According to the details, the team’s training camp will commence here on Friday while the players have been directed to report at National Cricket Academy (NCA) by tomorrow.

Grant Bradburn, the national men’s team’s potential assistant coach is likely to join the squad on April 11 while Rehman will serve as his assistant coach following the former’s arrival. Whereas, Abdul Majeed will continue his duty as the fielding coach.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul, who was named as the bowling coach in the team’s coaching setup for the recently-held Afghanistan series will reach here tomorrow and continue his role with the national team.

Former South African cricketer Andrew Puttick will take up the role of the team’s batting coach upon his arrival here.

It is pertinent to mention that the green shirts will take on New Zealand in a five-match each T20I and ODI series, which will be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi from 14 April to 7 May.

Senior players including the trio of captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi returned to the squads for the home T20I and ODI series against New Zealand.

READ: All-round Barmy Army edge Falcons to taste maiden FairBreak victory

Senior players return as PCB unveils squads for New Zealand home series

LAHORE: Senior players including the trio of captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi returned as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named full-strength squads for home T20I and ODI series against New Zealand.

Shaheen had missed five Tests and three ODIs against England and New Zealand post the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 as he was completing his rehabilitation following a knee injury he had sustained during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July. He had subsequently missed the second Test against Sri Lanka, ODI series against the Netherlands, ACC Asia Cup in the UAE and the seven-match T20I series in Pakistan.

The 22-year-old, who has taken 99 Test, 62 ODI and 58 T20I wickets, staged a remarkable comeback in the HBL Pakistan Super League 8 when he inspired Lahore Qalandars to become the first side to successfully defend the title. Not only that, Shaheen’s own performance was outstanding both with the bat and the ball – he scored 133 runs at a strike rate of 168.35 and grabbed 19 wickets at an economy rate of 9.13. He was rightly named captain of the Team of HBL PSL 8.

Apart from Shaheen, also returning to both the squads are Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan. All these players had rested for last month’s three-T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah.

This means Babar Azam will resume his normal services as captain in the ODI and T20I series against New Zealand, while Shadab will return to his original position as vice-captain.

Three young guns – Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub and Zaman Khan – have been retained in the T20I squad following stellar performances in Sharjah, while Ihsanullah has also been added to the ODI squad for the first time in his career.

The squad will assemble in Lahore on 6 April where the training camp will commence on 7 April.

SQUADS:

T20I: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan.

ODI: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir.

Revised Pakistan v New Zealand schedule:

14 Apr – 1^st T20I, Lahore
15 Apr – 2^nd T20I, Lahore
17 Apr – 3^rd T20I, Lahore
20 Apr – 4^th T20I, Rawalpindi
24 Apr – 5^th T20I, Rawalpindi
26 Apr – 1^st ODI, Rawalpindi
30 Apr – 2^nd ODI, Rawalpindi
3 May – 3^rd ODI, Karachi
5 May – 4^th ODI, Karachi
7 May – 5^th ODI, Karachi

Saqlain Mushtaq named New Zealand’s assistant coach for Pakistan tour

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan spinner and former head coach of the men’s national team Saqlain Mushtaq has been roped in by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) as the assistant coach’s role for their upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan.

Saqlain’s first assignment with the Blackcaps will be the five-match each ODI and T20I series against Pakistan, scheduled from April 14 to May 7.

He served as the national men’s team’s head coach for about a 16-month period before his contract ended in February this year.

Notably, the legendary spinner did not get the contract extension as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) eyeing to appoint a new coaching staff led by former head coach Mickey Arthur.

Consequently, the chairman of the PCB Management Committee Najam Sethi has been in talks with the South Africa-based coach and the deal between the two parties has nearly been finalised.

It is worth mentioning that Arthur coached the national men’s side between 2016 and 2019. During his tenure, Pakistan won their last major ICC event – Champions Trophy 2017 – and also rose to the top spot in the T20I rankings.

The South African coach was then removed from the position following Pakistan’s fifth-place finish in the Cricket World Cup 2019.

READ: South Africa move closer to World Cup qualification with Netherlands win

Latham to lead New Zealand’s T20 side on Pakistan tour

AUCKLAND: Wicketkeeper batter Tom Latham will lead New Zealand instead of Kane Williamson as the Black Caps named their T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Pakistan.

According to the details, Latham, who last played a T20I in September will return to the national colours and will take up the leadership role in the absence of New Zealand’s regular captain Williamson.

Latham will captain the 15-member squad which features potential T20 debutants Chad Bowes and Henry Shipley, along with several players returning to international T20 cricket on the back of the strong international and domestic form.

Tom Latham will return to international T20 action for the first time since 2021 to lead the BLACKCAPS T20 sides against Sri Lanka (home) and Pakistan (away). More | https://t.co/jzxlGum5JK #NZvSL #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/DNd31LkdKe

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 26, 2023

According to the NZC, the Pakistan-bound squad will leave for the country on April 9 to play a five-match T20I series, scheduled from April 14 to 24.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead stated Latham’s comeback to T20 cricket imaged his capability to adapt his game and his leadership.

“We saw against India earlier this season the power and range of shots that Tom possess. His adaptability also means he can feature in a range of batting positions.

“He led an inexperienced T20 squad to Bangladesh in 2021 and we were really impressed with his leadership of that group during a COVID bubble tour.”

New Zealand’s Squad for Pakistan T20Is:

Tom Latham (c, wk), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young.

READ: Quinton de Kock’s berserk ton pulls record T20I win for South Africa

Najam Sethi hints at change in New Zealand tour’s schedule

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee on Saturday hinted at slight changes in New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan, scheduled in April 2023.

Sethi while addressing the media here at Gaddafi Stadium, responded to a question regarding the schedule of New Zealand’s white-ball tour of Pakistan in April and stated that slight changes have been made, keeping the political situation into account.

“A schedule was designed earlier but we have made some changes to it. The New Zealand series will go ahead and probably minor tweaking has been done to it,” said Sethi.

“Initially it was bound to start from Karachi and then shift to Lahore and so on. So, those certain changes have been made. But, I think everything is on target,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that New Zealand will tour Pakistan in April this year to play a five-match each T20I and ODI series.

The T20I series will take place from April 13th to 23rd while the ODI series is scheduled from April 26th to May 7th.

National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi will host the first four T20I matches, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore will host the fifth T20I and the first two ODIs, while the remaining three ODIs will be held at Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

READ: ‘Mickey Arthur’s matter is in final stages,’ says Najam Sethi

Williamson ‘pleased’ with historic ODI series victory over Pakistan

KARACHI: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was pleased by his side’s historic ODI series triumph over Pakistan after Glenn Phillips’ scintillating knock powered them sailing through in the third and final ODI here on Friday.

Williamson talked to the media at the post-match press conference, commented on his team’s first ODI series victory in Pakistan and was pleased with the outcome.

“There are a number of unknowns when you arrive and you haven’t played in Pakistan before and so we tried to access that and tried to get some game plans together which varied throughout the series which I think, is just the characteristic of the international game when you play in different countries and it was very pleasing for us as a team to be able to do that,” said Williamson.

“Not just the conditions in general but I think from game to game they did change when we saw around you know a lot of different pep threats with the ball at different stages and tryna work out ways to score.

“There are a lot of positives but also a number of things to touch on and keep working on it as a side to keep moving forward.”

The New Zealand skipper also termed the conditions on offer in the ODIs very competitive with a nice balance between bat and ball.

“I think there have been very competitive pitches, been a nice balance between bat and ball. We’ve seen some that spun a lot and some that haven’t. But, you know as a side you just try to adjust to being effective with the bat and the ball,” Williamson stated.

“It was almost reflective of tournament cricket really when you play at multiple venues although we’ve only been here in Karachi we’ve seen a variety of conditions and I think the time of year has probably to do with that.

“So to come here and play well as a unit throughout the series and getting a series win is a very good effort by the team and another great opportunity to take a lot of learnings from it as well,” he maintained.

It is apropos to mention that Phillips’ brisk 66-run match-winning knock in the third and final ODI powered New Zealand to their first series triumph over Pakistan in their backyard.

READ: Rizwan reaches Chittagong in helicopter for BPL

New Zealand squad departs for India after concluding Pakistan tour

KARACHI: Following their 2-1 triumph over Pakistan in the recently-concluded ODI series, New Zealand departed for India to play a three-match ODI and T20I series.

According to the details, the Blackcaps squad left for India via a chartered flight on Saturday morning after their historic tour to Pakistan ended in their favour.

New Zealand, which toured Pakistan for a Test and ODI series, scripted history in the shorter format as they tasted their first triumph in the sub-continent after they beat Bangladesh in 2008.

Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and veteran pacer Tim Southee will travel back to their country to prepare for the Test series against England, while Mark Chapman and Jacob Duffy will replace them for the India tour.

Williamson’s deputy Tom Latham will take the reigns in the ODI series against India and Luke Ronchi will take up the head coach role.

It is pertinent to mention that New Zealand will commence their India tour with the three-match ODI series, scheduled for January 18 to 24, followed by T20Is, scheduled on January 27 to February 1.

READ: Mayers stars as Durban Super Giants sink MI Cape Town

Phillips stars as New Zealand down Pakistan in ODI series decider

KARACHI: New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips put on a scintillating show with his brisk 63-run knock and powered his side to defeat Pakistan by two wickets in the ODI series decider.

Set to chase 281, New Zealand amassed the total on the first delivery of the 49th over at the back of a quickfire 63-run knock of Phillips.

The touring side had a decent start to their run chase as openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway provided an important 43-run partnership before Allen got run out in the eighth over after scoring a run-a-ball 25.

Following the dismissal, Conway and skipper Kane Williamson anchored the run chase with a gritty partnership and took New Zealand to over the 100-run mark before Agha Salman picked up his maiden ODI wicket and provided a much-needed breakthrough to Pakistan.

Conway scored 52 off 65 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and a six.

Williamson then joined hands with Daryl Mitchell and put on another important partnership for his side as the duo added 52 runs for the third wicket before both Mitchell perished for 31.

New Zealand skipper Williamson then brought up his 42nd half-century but could not stick for long as he got run out for 53 off 68 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.

With New Zealand struggling at 181/5 after Michael Bracewell’s departure in the 36th over, Phillips came out for his side and turned the game on its head with clean striking and put Pakistan bowlers under pressure.

The right-handed batter scored a quickfire half-century off just 28 deliveries and brought New Zealand back into the game despite no support from the other end.

Amid Phillips’ brilliance, New Zealand kept losing wickets but the right-handed batter stood firm and drove his side to glory in the 49th over.

Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 63 off just 42 deliveries, hitting four fours and four sixes.

Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Wasim Jr took two wickets each, while Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir made one scalp each.

Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan posted a decent 280/9 on the board at the back of a brilliant century and a half-century from Fakhar and Rizwan respectively.

The hosts had a dismal start to their innings as they lost two early wickets including their skipper Babar Azam for a mere 21 in the seventh over.

Following the setback, Fakhar and Rizwan scripted an astounding recovery for Pakistan as they added 154 runs amid their third-wicket partnership and brought Pakistan back into the game.

Rizwan was the core aggressor of the stand as he kept ticking the scoreboard with his sensible rotation of strike while Fakhar played an anchoring role.

The duo frustrated the Kiwi bowlers and were looking for their team to amass the 300-run mark before Ish Sodhi provided a much-needed breakthrough to his side in the form of Rizwan.

The leg-spinner castled Rizwan with a googly and brought an end to his vital 79-run knock. He faced 74 deliveries and hit six boundaries.

Following Rizwan’s dismissal, Fakhar continued to push for the runs and soon brought up his century. The left-handed batter, however, soon perished after achieving the landmark and remained the top-scorer for his side in the series decider.

Fakhar scored 101 off 120 deliveries, laced with 10 boundaries and a six.

With both set batters back in the pavilion, Pakistan batters struggled to pound on the foundation and the hosts began to lose wickets at regular intervals.

Agha Salman, however, stood firm at one end while wickets were tumbling at the other before perishing in the final over after a vital 43-ball 45.

Veteran pacer Tim Southee led the bowling attack for New Zealand with three wickets, while Lockie Ferguson bagged a couple. Spinners Sodhi and Michael Bracewell struck out a batter each.

READ: Djokovic ‘a bit emotional’ after warm return to Australian Open