Wicket-keeper and batter Muhammad Rizwan. — AFP/File
NAPIER: Pakistan have received the toss and elected to discipline first towards New Zealand within the opening match of the One Day Worldwide (ODI) collection at McLean Park, Napier.
Each groups have made quite a few adjustments to the squads that performed out a five-match T20I collection that was received 4-1 by the hosts.
The vacationers have welcomed again captain Mohammad Rizwan and batsman Babar Azam after the important thing veterans have been omitted for the T20 collection.
Dealing with the hosts within the earlier collection, the Inexperienced Shirts struggled with the bat all through all T20Is, struggling heavy losses—together with defeats by 9 wickets, 5 wickets, 115 runs, and eight wickets—as they failed to regulate to New Zealand’s bouncy pitches.
The guests are hitting the bottom together with some senior gamers which is able to present a much-needed enhance as they purpose to bounce again within the 50-over matches. Pakistan additionally search to place behind their disappointing Champions Trophy marketing campaign, the place they have been eradicated within the group stage regardless of internet hosting the event early this 12 months.
Pakistan’s taking part in XI consists of Abdullah Shafique, Usman Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf.
Nonetheless, Pakistan suffered a setback as opener Imam-ul-Haq was dominated out of the primary ODI as a result of harm. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Imam sustained a proper foot harm throughout a apply session on the eve of the match.
The match marks an important day for 3 Pakistani gamers — Akif Javed, Usman Khan, and Mohammad Ali — who’re making their ODI debuts.
Group supervisor Naveed Akram Cheema handed Usman Khan his debut cap, head coach Aqib Javed offered Akif Javed his debut cap, whereas Mohammad Rizwan welcomed Mohammad Ali to worldwide cricket by providing him his debut cap.
Talking after the toss, Pakistan skipper Rizwan stated that he took the choice to bowl first after seeing the pitch circumstances.
“We want to take advantage of the conditions by bowling first,” Rizwan said.
In the meantime, New Zealand handed worldwide debuts to opening batsman Nick Kelly and Pakistan-born allrounder Muhammad Abbas.
With a contemporary pitch and overcast circumstances in Napier, Pakistan will look to make early inroads towards the New Zealand batting line-up.
Pakistan:
Abdullah Shafique, Usman Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed
New Zealand:
Nick Kelly, Will Younger, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell (capt), Muhammad Abbas, Mitch Hay, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke
Umpires: Chris Brown (NZL), Paul Reiffel (AUS)
TV umpire: Michael Gough (ENG)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
