Tag: New Zealand

New Zealand players are set to miss the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 as the tournament prepares to restart following days of conflict between India and Pakistan.

A few days earlier, the unexpected political tensions between India and Pakistan led to the postponement of IPL and PSL, triggering a schedule clash after both boards revised their respective calendars post-ceasefire.

The PSL, initially promised for May 18, has now been squeezed into a nine-day window from May 17 to May 25, becoming a casualty of the scheduling conflict.

The tournament  is all set to resume on May 17 with Karachi Kings facing Peshawar Zalmi at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Rawalpindi will host three matches, including a double-header on Sunday, May 18, with Quetta Gladiators taking on Multan Sultans in the afternoon, followed by a clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars in the evening.

The last match at the venue will see defending champions Islamabad United face Karachi Kings on May 19.

After that, the action will move to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, which will host the business end of the tournament.

The Qualifier, Eliminator 1, and Eliminator 2 are scheduled for May 21, 22, and 23, respectively, with the grand final to be played on May 25.

According to the sources privy to the information, New Zealand players, including Kyle Jamieson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell and Finn Allen, are expected to miss the remainder of the tournament due to No Objection Certificates (NOCS).

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In light of the situation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently in discussions with the New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) regarding their availability, with an official announcement expected soon.

Revised Schedule of PSL 10

17 May – Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

18 May – Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

19 May – Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

21 May – Qualifier 1, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

22 May – Eliminator 1, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

23 May – Eliminator 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

25 May – Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

READ: Former England batter joins Islamabad United for remainder of PSL 10

New Zealand Cricket (NZC), in a landmark move that could reshape cricket’s global footprint, has announced the launch of its own franchise in the United States’ Major League Cricket (MLC), set to debut in the 2027 season.

The development follows an agreement between NZC and US-based True North Sports Ventures (TNS), a key player in promoting the sport across North America.

The deal will see NZC offering high-performance and operational support, including coaching, management, and support staff, while integrating the new franchise into New Zealand’s domestic high-performance structure.

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NZC chief executive Scott Weenink termed the partnership a strategic leap forward, positioning New Zealand at the heart of the global evolution of cricket while tapping into the lucrative US sports market.

“This agreement marks a unique and exciting milestone for NZC,” said Weenink. “As franchise cricket grows globally, NZC needs to adapt to seize strategic opportunities that ensure the sustainability of our cricket network.”

He emphasised that the collaboration will not only diversify NZC’s revenue streams and expand its international brand presence but also open fresh pathways for talent development and retention, both for players and coaches.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

True North Sports Ventures, too, sounded upbeat about the venture.

“The potential for cricket in North America is immense,” a TNS statement read. “We look forward to working with NZC to deliver on both our ambitions and theirs, including broader strategic and corporate opportunities globally.”

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MOUNT MAUNGANUI: New Zealand middle-order batter Mark Chapman has been ruled out of the third and final ODI against Pakistan, set to be played here at Bay Oval on Saturday.

Chapman, who played a match-winning knock in the series opener, sustained a hamstring injury while fielding in the second innings of that match. Subsequent scans confirmed a grade-one tear, forcing him to miss the second ODI of the series.

According to New Zealand Cricket (NZC), the left-hander was assessed during the team’s training session ahead of the third ODI, but he had not recovered sufficiently to make a return.

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“BLACKCAPS batter Mark Chapman has been ruled out of the third and final Chemist Warehouse ODI against Pakistan at Bay Oval tomorrow with a hamstring injury,” NZC said in an official statement.

“Chapman was ruled out of the second ODI in Hamilton with a minor hamstring tear, and an assessment at training today revealed he has not recovered sufficiently to take his place in the XI for the final match of the home summer.”

With Chapman sidelined, Tim Seifert, who was brought in as his replacement for the second ODI, will remain with the squad for the final game.

READ: Pakistan squad carries out training session ahead of final New Zealand ODI

MOUNT MAUNGANUI: The Pakistan cricket team hit the ground running on Friday here at Bay Oval with their training session for the third ODI against New Zealand, set to be played on April 5.

The Green Shirts arrived in Mount Maunganui on Thursday, gearing up for the third and final ODI of the series against New Zealand. After a much-needed day of rest, the squad hit the nets today for an intense practice session.

However, persistent rain forced the team to move their training indoors at Bay Oval. Under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff, the players focused on refining their batting, bowling, and overall fitness through specialized drills.

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It’s worth noting that Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand has been anything but smooth. After a 4-1 drubbing in the T20I series, the Men in Green carried their poor form into the ODIs, losing the opener by 73 runs before conceding the series with an 84-run defeat in the second match earlier today.

With New Zealand already securing the series, the final ODI has been reduced to a dead rubber. Yet, for Pakistan, the match holds significance as an opportunity to salvage some pride after a tough tour.

Pakistan squad for ODI series against New Zealand

Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Haris Rauf, and Usman Khan.

READ: Saud Shakeel reveals his vision if he becomes PCB chairman

HAMILTON: Pakistan pace bowler Naseem Shah etched his name in the record books with his gutsy batting performance during the second ODI against New Zealand here at Seddon Park on Wednesday.

Despite Pakistan’s batting struggles, Naseem provided a rare spark, scoring his maiden ODI half-century and becoming the second-highest run-scorer from the No. 11 position in ODI history.

However, his efforts weren’t enough to save Pakistan from a thumping 84-run defeat, which handed New Zealand an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Chasing 293, Pakistan crumbled to 208 all out, with only Faheem Ashraf (73 off 80) and Naseem (51 off 44) offering resistance.

The duo stitched a crucial 60-run stand for the ninth wicket, briefly giving Pakistan a glimmer of hope.

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Naseem, who was initially rested due to a minor niggle, was brought in as a concussion substitute for Haris Rauf. His fearless knock, featuring four fours and four sixes, showcased his clean hitting under pressure.

His 51-run effort now stands as the second-highest individual score by a No. 11 batter in ODI history, behind only Mohammad Amir’s 58 against England in 2016.

Notably, the top three highest scores from this position all belong to Pakistani players, with Shoaib Akhtar’s 43 against England in 2003 rounding out the list.

With Pakistan already trailing 2-0 in the series, they now face the daunting task of avoiding a clean sweep in the final ODI, scheduled in Mount Maunganui on April 5.

Pakistan squad for ODI series against New Zealand

Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Haris Rauf, and Usman Khan.

READ: Haris Rauf, Salman Ali Agha rise in ICC ODI Rankings despite Pakistan’s struggles

DUBAI: Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha have made notable gains in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings, released on Wednesday, despite the team’s ongoing struggles in the white-ball series against New Zealand.

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand has been anything but smooth. After a 4-1 drubbing in the T20I series, the Men in Green carried their poor form into the ODIs, losing the opener by 73 runs before conceding the series with an 84-run defeat in the second match earlier today.

However, the updated ODI rankings—calculated before today’s game—brought some individual positives.

Haris Rauf, who impressed with figures of 2-38 in the first ODI, jumped nine places to secure the 16th spot in the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings with 578 rating points.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan’s premier pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is absent from the ODI squad, slipped two places and dropped out of the top 10. He now sits at 11th with 613 points.

On the batting charts, Salman Ali Agha’s gritty 58-run knock in the series opener helped him climb six spots, placing him in joint 37th alongside New Zealand’s Tom Latham.

However, it wasn’t all good news for Pakistan’s batters. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan lost two and one spot, respectively, and are now positioned at 20th and 21st in the rankings.

Babar Azam, though, remains Pakistan’s highest-ranked batter, holding firm at the second spot in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings.

With Pakistan already trailing 2-0 in the series, they now face the daunting task of avoiding a clean sweep in the final ODI against a dominant New Zealand side.

READ: Rizwan reflects on Pakistan’s defeat in second ODI against New Zealand

HAMILTON: Ben Sears ran through the batting lineup of Pakistan with a sensational five-wicket haul as New Zealand secured an emphatic 84-run victory in the second ODI at Seddon Park on Wednesday, sealing the three-match series 2-0 with one game to spare.

Chasing a target of 293, Pakistan’s innings never really got going as they collapsed to 208 all out in 41.2 overs.

The chase started in disastrous fashion, with the visitors losing three wickets inside the first six overs, reduced to 9-3. The situation worsened as captain Mohammad Rizwan (5) and vice-captain Salman Agha (9) fell in quick succession, leaving Pakistan reeling at 32-5.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf provided some resistance at No. 7, adding 33 runs with Tayyab Tahir (13), but the wickets kept tumbling as New Zealand’s bowlers tightened their grip. Pakistan were staring down the barrel at 114-8 in the 28th over.

Amidst the collapse, an unfortunate injury saw Haris Rauf suffer a concussion after being struck on the head, forcing his exit from the match.

Naseem Shah was brought in as a concussion substitute and, along with Faheem, stitched a crucial 60-run stand for the ninth wicket, giving Pakistan a glimmer of hope.

However, just when Pakistan seemed to be clawing their way back, Sears returned to break the stand, dismissing Faheem for a gritty 73 off 80 balls.

Naseem fought on, smashing his maiden ODI fifty off just 41 balls, but Sears wrapped up the innings by removing him for 51, leaving Pakistan all out for 208.

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Sears was the standout performer for the Blackcaps, finishing with figures of 5-41. Jacob Duffy chipped in with three wickets, while Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith took one apiece.

Earlier, New Zealand posted 292-8 in their 50 overs, thanks largely to an unbeaten 99-run masterclass from Mitchell Hay.

Openers Rhys Mariu and Nick Kelly got the hosts off to a solid start, putting up a 50-run partnership.

However, Haris Rauf provided the breakthrough, dismissing Kelly for 31. Mohammad Wasim Jr. struck in the 10th over, sending Mariu back for 18, reducing New Zealand to 71-2.

The hosts continued to lose wickets at regular intervals—Daryl Mitchell (18), Henry Nicholls (22), and captain Michael Bracewell (17) all got starts but failed to convert.

At 132-5, New Zealand were under pressure, but Muhammad Abbas (41 off 66) and Mitchell Hay steadied the innings with a crucial 77-run stand.

Even as wickets fell, Hay continued to attack, finishing just one run short of what would have been a well-deserved century. His unbeaten 99 off 78 balls, laced with seven fours and seven sixes, powered New Zealand to a competitive total.

For Pakistan, Wasim Jr. and Sufiyan Muqeem picked up two wickets each, while Faheem Ashraf, Akif Javed, and Haris Rauf claimed one apiece.

READ: Pakistan sanctioned for slow over-rate in first New Zealand ODI

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Tuesday, reprimanded the Pakistan men’s cricket team for maintaining a slow over-rate during the opening ODI of their three-match series against New Zealand.

According to the ICC, match referee Jeff Crowe from the Elite Panel imposed the sanction after Pakistan fell two overs short of the required target, even after considering time allowances.

Under Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for each over their side fails to complete in the stipulated time.

Given that Pakistan were two overs behind, the team has been handed a 10 per cent match fee deduction.

Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, accepted the charges and penalties, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

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It’s worth noting that after a disappointing 4-1 loss in the T20I series, Pakistan stumbled in the ODI opener as well, suffering a 73-run defeat.

New Zealand, batting first, posted a daunting total of 344, powered by Mark Chapman’s 132 and a rapid 24-ball fifty from debutant Muhammad Abbas.

In response, Pakistan made a strong start and reached 249-3 in the 39th over. However, a sudden collapse saw them crumble to 271 all out, missing out on what once seemed like a competitive chase.

The second ODI of the series is set to take place in Hamilton on Wednesday.

Pakistan Squad for Second ODI Against New Zealand

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Haris Rauf.

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New Zealand suffered a major blow ahead of the second ODI against Pakistan as in-form middle-order batter Mark Chapman was ruled out of the upcoming match after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Chapman, who played a match-winning knock in the first ODI, suffered the injury while fielding in the second innings. Subsequent scans revealed a grade-one tear, forcing him to return to Auckland for rehabilitation.

However, the left-hander remains in contention for the third and final ODI scheduled to be played at Mount Maunganui on April 5.

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In his absence, New Zealand have called up wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert, who was in sublime form during the recently concluded five-match T20I series against Pakistan, amassing 249 runs at an impressive average of 62.

Head coach Gary Stead acknowledged the setback but was relieved that the injury wasn’t severe.

“It’s obviously disappointing news for Mark [Chapman] after a really special innings in the opening ODI in Napier,” Stead said.

“We’re thankful that the hamstring injury is only minor, so we’re hopeful that he will complete his rehabilitation in time for the final match of the summer in the Mount.”

New Zealand Squad for Second ODI Against Pakistan

Henry Nicholls, Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Michael Bracewell (c), Tim Seifert, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young.

READ: Naseem Shah expresses distress over personal criticism from former players

Pakistan kicked off the three-match ODI series against New Zealand on a disappointing note, as the visitors not only suffered a 73-run defeat but also set an unwanted record for conceding the most extras in an ODI innings.

Pakistan bowlers struggled with discipline throughout the first innings, conceding a staggering 43 extra runs—including wides and leg-byes. This figure ranks as the third-highest number of extras conceded by Pakistan in ODI history.

It’s worth noting that the record for the highest number of extras given away in ODI history is jointly held by West Indies and Scotland, conceding 59 runs each.

The record for the most extras by Pakistan in an ODI remains 47, given away against New Zealand in Manchester during the 1999 World Cup.

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The Men in Green also conceded 44 extras on two occasions—against Sri Lanka in Sharjah (1990) and against New Zealand in Dambulla (2003).

Despite notable performances from Babar Azam and Salman Ali Agha with the bat, Pakistan failed to chase a daunting 345-run target, handing New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the series.

It’s worth noting that the second match is scheduled for April 2 in Hamilton, while the series will conclude with the final ODI in Mount Maunganui on April 5.

Pakistan squad for ODI series against New Zealand

Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Haris Rauf, and Usman Khan.

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