ISLAMABAD – New Zealand cricket squad arrived in Islamabad on Saturday after a long break of 18 years to play ODI and T20I series against Pakistan.
The visiting team will play three ODIs and five T20Is, which will begin from 17 September to 3 October. The ODIs will be played at Pindi Cricket Stadium on September 17, 19 and 21, while the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the five T20Is, starting from September 25.
A warm welcome to the @BLACKCAPS
New Zealand have reached Islamabad for their three-match ODI and five-match T20I series against Pakistan. #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/qGQuPAcURy— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 11, 2021
The Black Caps had last visited Pakistan in 2003 when they played ODI series. Since then, Pakistan have hosted three series with New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier this month, Pakistan cricket selectors named a 20-player squad for the three ICC Cricket World Cup Super League One-Day Internationals against New Zealand.
Uncapped wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris, fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim and Shahnawaz Dahani, and wrist-spinner Zahid Mahmood have been named in the squad, while middle-order batters Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah have been recalled, PCB said in a statement.
Iftikhar’s seventh and last ODI was against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, while Khushdil’s only ODI appearance was also in the tied match against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi.
Players who were part of the ODI series against England in July but have failed to retain their places are Haris Sohail, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sohaib Maqsood.
Pakistan ODI squad:
Babar Azam (captain, Central Punjab), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Haris (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shadab Khan (Northern), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Usman Qadir (Central Punjab) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab)