KARACHI: Pakistan and New Zealand will face off in the first of three one-day internationals in Karachi Monday, with an eye on this year’s World Cup in India.<\/p>\n
The preceding Test series between the two teams failed to produce a result in either of the two Tests \u2014 both in Karachi \u2014 ending a miserable season for both teams.
\nPakistan failed to win any of their three-Test series at home, losing four of the eight Tests including their first-ever 3-0 whitewash at the hands of England.<\/p>\n
New Zealand also failed to win any of their last six Tests.<\/p>\n
But Babar Azam is confident his team will do well in the limited over matches.<\/p>\n
“Pakistan has proved themselves to be a good white-ball team and this series provides us a perfect launching pad to kickstart our World Cup preparations,” said Azam of the World Cup in October\/November.<\/p>\n
Azam’s team won eight of the nine one-day internationals last year, including a 2-1 series win over a formidable Australia at home.<\/p>\n
“We are a well-rounded side with solid batters and bowlers who have proved themselves time and again so I am confident of doing well in the coming series,” said Azam.<\/p>\n
Pakistan will miss pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi who is recovering from a knee injury sustained in November last year, while spinning allrounder Shadab Khan is also out with a recent finger fracture.<\/p>\n
Opener Fakhar Zaman will bolster the batting, as will Haris Sohail \u2014 recalled after two years.<\/p>\n
New Zealand, runners-up in the last World Cup in 2019, won ten of their 16 ODIs last year and have a strong unit led by Kane Williamson.<\/p>\n
They have been dominant against Pakistan, having won 12 of the last 15 ODIs between the two teams.<\/p>\n
Williamson is also concentrating on World Cup, having relinquished Test captaincy.<\/p>\n
“I felt that continuing to captain the white-ball formats was preferable with two World Cups in the next two years,” he said last month, referring to the 2023 ODI and 2024 T20 World Cups.<\/p>\n
The accomplished batter acknowledged Pakistan’s strengths.<\/p>\n
“Pakistan is a very strong side and naturally know these conditions very well,” said Williamson.<\/p>\n
“For us as a team it’s focusing on the cricket we want to play and try put out some improved performances.”<\/p>\n
New Zealand pacer Matt Henry is also out of ODIs with an abdominal strain sustained on the final day of the drawn second Test.<\/p>\n
They are already missing pace trio Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Adam Milne \u2014 for varied reasons.<\/p>\n
The remaining matches are on Wednesday and Friday, also in Karachi.<\/p>\n
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Agha Salman, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Usama Mir<\/p>\n
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Latham, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner<\/p>\n
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Asif Yaqoob (PAK)<\/p>\n
TV umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)<\/p>\n
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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