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CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the second match of the ongoing Tri-nation series.
PLAYING XIs
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi
CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan became the joint second highest wicket takers for Pakistan in T20 Internationals.
In the tri-nation series opener against Bangladesh, Shadab made one scalp as he removed the opposing captain Nurul Hasan for eight.
Hasan’s wicket in the 15th over of the Bangladesh innings took Shadab to a landmark 85-wicket mark and became the joint second-highest wicket takers for Pakistan in T20Is.
Legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi tops the list with 98 wickets in the shortest format, while Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal also had 85 T20I wickets each to their names.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez stands fifth in the list of most wickets for Pakistan in T20Is with 65 scalps.
It is pertinent to mention that Shadab made his T20I debut against West Indies in 2017 and has taken 85 wickets in 69 innings at an average of 21.55.
CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the ongoing Tri-series against Pakistan and Bangladesh after he injured his right-hand finger on Friday.
According to the details, Mitchell sustained a blow to his hand while practising in the nets on Friday and an X-Ray revealed that he had fractured his fifth metacarpal (pinkie finger).
According to Blackcaps physio Theo Kapakoulakis, Mitchell’s injured hand has been placed in a cast and it will remain there for at least two more weeks.
New Zealand will play their first game of the Tri-series on Saturday (Tomorrow) against Pakistan.
With ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2022 just around the corner, Mitchell’s availability for the mega event in Australia would be under the clouds.
New Zealand team head coach, Gary Stead said any decision in this regard would be taken after assessing Mitchell’s recovery.
New Zealand are set to leave for Australia on October 15 while the final of the tri-nation series is scheduled on October 14.
CHRISTCHURCH: Mohammad Rizwan starred with an unbeaten knock of 78 off 50 before bowlers restricted Bangladesh to 146/8 in the allotted 20 overs to help Pakistan secure their first win in Tri-series on Friday.
Set to chase a respectable target of 168, Bangladesh put up a dismal show with the bat as Pakistan bowlers stormed through the batting line and beat the opponent by 21 runs.
Mohammad Wasim Jr remained phenomenal with the ball as he picked three wickets for 24 runs while Nawaz returned the figures of 2/25 in his four overs quota.
Bangladesh batter Yasir Ali resisted lately with a valiant knock of unbeaten 42 off 21 but in vain since Pakistan had already ascended to a comfortable position in the game by then.
Openers Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Sabbir Rahman failed to provide a solid foundation to Bangladesh’s chase as they were dismissed inside the powerplay for 10 and 14, respectively.
Litton Das then combined excellently with Afif Hasnain for a decent 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket before the former was removed by Nawaz in the 13th over after scoring 35 off 26.
Following the dismissal, Bangladesh lost the track of their chase and started to lose wickets in quick successions as Mosaddek Hussain (0), Nurul Hasan (8), Taskin Ahmed (2) and Nasum Ahmed (0) fell cheaply while attempting big hits.
For Pakistan, apart from Nawaz and Wasim, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf also took a scalp each.
Earlier in the first innings, the wicket-keeper batter Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan as he smashed nine boundaries including seven fours and two sixes while Shan Masood and skipper Babar Azam also contributed with 31 off 22 and 22 off 25, respectively.
The middle order, however, continued their dismal form as Haider Ali (6), Iftikhar Ahmed (13) and Asif Ali (4) failed to accelerate the scoreboard and offered their wickets in quick succession.
The reliable duo, Babar and Rizwan, provided a solid start to Pakistan after they were put to bat by Bangladesh. The pair built an opening partnership of 52 runs before the skipper fell prey to Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the 8th over.
Shan then joined Rizwan on the crease and moved the scoreboard to 94 runs before the left-hander tossed up the ball in the 13th over and offered his wicket to Nasum Ahmed.
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed pocketed two wickets while Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a scalp each.
CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan captain Babar Azam disclosed that the national team would play the tri-nation series in New Zealand with their best combination, saying they tested the bench strength during the home series against England but now only those players who are expected for the World Cup would be included in the playing XI.
Pakistan are set to face Bangladesh tomorrow in the opening game of the Triangular series.
Babar stated that the tri-series was a great opportunity for the team ahead of the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2022 as conditions in New Zealand were similar to that of Australia, where the mega event will be hosted.
“This series is very important before the World Cup since the weather and conditions are similar. The weather is cold here just like in Australia. The wickets are bouncy here and we’ll get a bounce in Australia too.” he said at a media talk in Christchurch.
“So it’s a great opportunity to prepare ourselves for the World Cup,” he added.
Speaking of the opposing sides in the triangular series, Pakistan’s captain asserted that no team in the T20I format could be labelled as an easy opponent, especially New Zealand, who were a strong side in their home conditions.
“Black Caps have experience on their side. They have fast bowlers like Southee and Boult and then they have Kane Williamson. So, I think they have a very good combination” he said.
Moreover, Babar said the Pakistan team checked various combinations during the recently concluded T20I series against England but now they would only be playing those players in the team who were the most expected for the World Cup.
“During our last series against England we tried different combinations in batting as well in bowling and checked our bench strength but now we will be going with only those players who are part of our World Cup combination or most expected to play” he maintained.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan will be playing the tri-nation series against Bangladesh and the hosts New Zealand from October 7 to 14. The same squad will then leave for Australia to play the World Cup.
Pakistan will start their World Cup campaign on October 23 with the blockbuster clash against the arch-rivals India at the iconic MCG stadium.
CHRISTCHURCH: The glittering trophy for the T20I tri-series between Pakistan, Bangladesh and the hosts New Zealand was unveiled here on Wednesday as the three teams will roll into action from October 7 to 14.
The trophy of the triangular series was revealed by the captains of the participating teams as Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Nurul Hasan of Bangladesh posed with the trophy.
The pictures of the trophy unveiling were also shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board on its official Twitter account.
Trophy unveiled 🏆
The series kicks off on Friday with the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh 🏏#NZTriSeries | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/Jggf4F88ge
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 5, 2022
The opening game of the tri-series will be played between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Friday. All the matches of the series will be played at Hagley Oval.
Earlier, the national team reached Christchurch on Tuesday, two days after concluding the seven-match T20I home series against England which Pakistan lost by 4-3.
The tri-nation series is expected to give the participating teams much-needed confidence before the mega-event, ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, starting from October 16.
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CHRISTCHURCH: National men’s cricket team landed at Christchurch Airport on Tuesday to play the tri-nation series against Bangladesh and the hosts New Zealand, scheduled from October 7 to 14.
The Green Shirts will start the tri-series campaign on Friday as they face Bangladesh in the opening match on Friday.
According to the details, Babar Azam-led 16-member national T20 squad along with 13 support staff members has reached Christchurch via Dubai.
The Pakistani contingent departed from Lahore on Sunday soon after the conclusion of the seven-match T20I series against England.
The Green Shirts will rest today at the team’s hotel before starting their training sessions tomorrow.
All the matches of the tri-series will be hosted at Christchurch. The same squad will then leave for Australia to participate in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, where they will face India in their opening game on October 23.
Pakistan Squad for ICC T20 World Cup, Tri-Series: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani
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LAHORE: Pakistan left-handed batter Shan Masood earned a call-up into the national squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and the scheduled Tri-Series in New Zealand.
The chief selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohammad Waseem unveiled the much-anticipated squad for the green shirts’ upcoming assignments including ICC T20 World Cup, Tri-Series in New Zealand, and home T20I series against England at a scheduled press conference at Gaddafi Stadium here.
Shan, who has been piling runs in the domestic circuit and global leagues, earned a much-awaited call-up into the national squad and replaced Fakhar Zaman, who has been kept in the reserves for the mega event alongside Mohammad Haris and Shanawaz Dahani.
All of the players who will travel for the World Cup will also represent Pakistan in the home T20I series against England with the exception of Fakhar and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
According to their plan to reward top players, the selectors have replaced them with Northern’s all-rounder Aamir Jamal and Sindh’s spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Waseem, while announcing the national contingent for the upcoming assignments, claimed that players who have been part of the side have been backed.
“Our team has been consistently performing well since the last World T20. After the last World T20, we started preparing for the World T20 in Australia. So, we have kept our faith in players who have been playing consistently,” he said.
“Our team has defeated India in World Cup and Asia Cup. We have full confidence in our team and hope the team will perform well,” he maintained.
Pakistan Squad for ICC T20 World Cup, Tri-Series: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani
Pakistan Squad for England T20Is: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Aamir Jamal, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir, Abrar Ahmed
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will unveil the much-awaited squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 on the deadline of September 15.
According to the PCB, chief selector, Mohammad Wasim will reveal the national contingent while holding a press conference at the Far-End building at the Gaddafi Stadium here at 4:30 pm on Thursday.
The announced squad will also represent Pakistan in the upcoming home T20I series against England and also in the Tri-Series in New Zealand.
It is pertinent to mention here that the recent dip in the players’ performance and fitness had created problems for the selection committee and the consultation process could not be completed today.
Furthermore, the injury voes among the national players added further to the misery of the committee as the star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi could not start bowling in the nets as of yet and is currently undergoing rehabilitation in the United Kingdom (UK).
Details further suggest that the announced squad will also feature a quota of reserve players for the mega event, scheduled to commence in October in Australia.
Wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed, leg-spinner Usman Qadir, and Zahid Mehmood may receive a call-up in the national squad as Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz are expected to be given rest for the initial matches of the England series.
LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Selection Committee is facing serious difficulties finalising the players’ names for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and home T20I series against England, sources claimed.
According to the details, the committee’s troubles with the batters’ form and the cricketers’ fitness issues hindered the consultation process for the announcement of the national T20 team from being finalized today.
The deadline for announcing the T20 World Cup roster is September 15; however, if the selection committee fails to do so by that date, the PCB will have to appeal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for an extension.
Furthermore, the national players sustaining injuries in the recently-concluded Asia Cup 2022 added further to the misery of the committee, while the ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi could not start bowling in the nets as of yet and is currently undergoing rehabilitation in the United Kingdom (UK).
Reports, however, suggest that the situation may likely be clear today regarding finalizing the squad including the quota of reserve players.
Wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed, leg-spinner Usman Qadir, and Zahid Mehmood may receive a call-up for the upcoming England T20Is as Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz are expected to be given rest for the initial fixtures.
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