New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2023: Pakistan vs New Zealand – 1st T20I Preview and Updates

Cricket

Pakistan will play New Zealand in a five-match Twenty20 International series beginning on Friday at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore.

After playing Test matches in Pakistan last year, New Zealand is expected to play its first T20I series there. Both teams will be eager to deliver and prepare for the five-match T20I series.

In the history of the 20-over format, both teams have played 29 matches, with the Men-in-Green holding a slight advantage with 18 wins to the Kiwis’ 11.

Pakistan has won two of three series against New Zealand since 2017.

The 1st T20I between Pakistan vs New Zealand will take place on April 14th, 2023 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Match Details to Note

Match: Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st T20I, New Zealand tour of Pakistan, 2023

Date: April 14, 2023 (Friday)

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Pakistan vs New Zealand

Pakistan (Match Odds – 1.38):

Preview:

The home team has named a full squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Saim Ayyub, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, and Zaman Khan have been retained in the T20I squad for the New Zealand series after appearing in the previous series against Afghanistan in the UAE.

Batting, the team will rely on captain Babar, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, rookie opener Saim Ayyub, all-rounder Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Haris to score the majority of the runs.

The onus will be on star pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shan, and Haris Rauf, as well as the spin duo of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, to provide timely breakthroughs.

Full Squad:

Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan (VC), 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, Zaman Khan

Players to watch out for:

Ihsanullah

Pakistan’s young fast bowler has been nothing short of a sensation. In only 15 professional T20 games, he has 28 wickets.

Mohammad Rizwan

Given that the opening batsman can counter-attack the bowling unit from ball one. Furthermore, this wicketkeeper/batsman has scored 276 runs against the Kiwis, with a best score of 104*.

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi has 11 wickets in his last seven games, bowling at an economy rate of less than 6.2 runs per over.

Possible Playing XI:

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayyub, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf/Imad Wasim

New Zealand (Match Odds – 3.05):

Preview:

New Zealand will enter this series as underdogs, owing to an inexperienced squad that arrived in the country. The senior players are currently competing in the Indian Premier League, and it will be interesting to see how the young players fare in Pakistan.

The management, on the other hand, will be hoping that the young players can make an impact with bat and ball in this five-match T20I series.

The Black Caps will rely heavily on their captain Tom Latham, inexperienced batter Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, all-rounders James Neesham and Daryl Mitchell to score the majority of the runs.

On the bowling front, pacers Ben Lister, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi will be expected to produce timely breakthroughs.

Full Squad:

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

Players to watch out for:

Henry Shipley

In seven appearances, the 26-year-old has taken 13 wickets. Shipley, who can bowl with variation and even swing the ball in both directions, has the potential to be the new bowling star if he can lead the Kiwi unit.

Daryl Mitchell

In his last ten games, Mitchell has scored 287 runs while batting 47 times and striking out 143 times.

James Neesham

With the ability to score boundaries at the death and even take wickets in the final overs, Neesham’s performance in Lahore will be crucial.

Possible Playing XI:

Tom Latham (c & wk), Chad Bowes, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister, Matt Henry

Pakistan vs New Zealand Top Team Batsmen

We recommend Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saim Ayub from Pakistan’s batting lineup. Among these players, Rizwan and Azam have scored the most runs against the Kiwis. Not only will they need to bat deep if Pakistan is to score runs, but they will also need to be able to lead the batting unit. Saim Ayub, on the other hand, is a rising star who has demonstrated his attacking ability in previous tournaments.

We recommend that you select Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, and Mark Chapman from New Zealand’s batting lineup. While the latter has yet to prove his worth on the international stage on a consistent basis, both Mitchell and Latham have an excellent opportunity to lead New Zealand in the absence of other marquee players.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Top Team Bowlers

We recommend you select Ihsanullah, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi from Pakistan’s bowling unit. These three bowlers will not only get some unexpected bounce on the surface, but their raw pace will be crucial in taking regular wickets against the Kiwis’ inexperienced batting lineup.

We recommend Adam Milne, Henry Shipley, and Ish Sodhi from New Zealand’s bowling unit. In Lahore, Milne and Shipley will be crucial with the new ball, but Ish Sodhi has experience taking wickets in the middle overs. Will he, however, receive the necessary assistance on this path? It will be an interesting sight to watch.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Head to Head

Pakistan has won the last two games in a row, and four of the last five overall. Their most recent victory over the Kiwis came with 7 wickets and 5 balls remaining. Mohammad Rizwan scored a match-winning 57 off 43 balls in that game.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Head to Head Stats in T20s

	Matches Played	PAK Won	NZ Won	Tie	NR
Overall	29	18	11	0	0
Last 5	5	4	1	0	0

Pakistan vs New Zealand Toss Prediction

Both teams will be looking to win the toss, bat first, and score runs. At Gaddafi Cricket Stadium, the average first innings score is around 160 runs.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Pitch Report

The first T20I of the series between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played at Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan has lost the last two Twenty20 Internationals played at Gaddafi Cricket Stadium.

With no sign of rain in the forecast, the wicket prepared for the game will be a little two-paced in the first half. Batting should become easier under lighting.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Prediction

After losing the T20I series to Afghanistan, Pakistan, led by Babar, will look to rebound against New Zealand. The hosts will be eager to get their season off to a winning start. New Zealand, on the other hand, will need to play their best cricket to compete with Pakistan in this series opener. Check out the odds at Cricbaba!

Pakistan is the favourite to beat New Zealand at the odds of 1.38.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Most Recommended Player for Bet:

Captain Babar Azam has scored 412 runs against the Kiwis and is the current lineup’s leading run-scorer. Furthermore, Babar has the highest score of 87* at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

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