Pakistan vs New Zealand: 1st T20I, Preview: Sarfraz's men aim to carry over domination on the Kiwis

In their previous T20I series against Australia, Pakistan showed why they are the number one ranked team in the shortest format courtesy of a 3-0 whitewash. Barring the second match in Dubai where Glenn Maxwell almost helped the visiting team snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, the Men in Green didn’t give their opponents much of an opportunity to make a comeback.

Sarfraz Ahmed and Co comprehensively outplayed the Aussies in all the departments, batting, bowling as well as fielding. Moreover, they went on to win their 10th T20I series in succession under Sarfraz. The Men in Green are now scheduled to lock horns with New Zealand in a three-match series, the first of which will be played tomorrow at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The Black Caps, on the contrary, are set to play their first T20I ever since the triangular series, involving Australia and England back in February. The Kiwis are currently ranked fifth in the ICC team rankings and they are expected to give Pakistan a run for their money. In the meantime, the home team would be keen to carry on with their dominant run in the shortest format.

Team Combination

Pakistan

Pakistan announced the 12-man squad ahead of the first match and have been jolted with an injury to Fakhar Zaman. Sahibzada Farhan will open the innings along with Babar Azam even as Shoaib Malik, who became the father only on Tuesday, will also play the game. However, either of Usman Khan and Shaheen Afridi will make it to the playing XI and given recent performances, the 18-year-old will most likely get the nod.

Predicted XI

Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed (C & wk), Asif Ali, Shoaib Malik, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali

New Zealand

Colin Munro and Kane Williamson are the opening batsmen. Glenn Phillips and Ross Taylor are the men to follow. Philips and the seasoned campaigner Taylor are slotted in at number three and four. Mark Chapman and Anderson follow thereafter. Grandhomme and Southee add depth to the batting. Southee and Ferguson are the fast bowlers with Patel and Sodhi being the spinners.

Predicted XI

Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (C), Glenn Phillips (wk), Ross Taylor, Mark Chapman, Corey Anderson, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel, Lockie Ferguson

Focus will be on

Imad Wasim- Pakistan

He couldn’t play the Asia Cup but made amends in the T20I series against Australia. He ended up with only four wickets but made sure that he conceded no more than 61 runs in the three encounters. He is again expected to deliver, bowling inside the powerplays. Moreover, his big hitting abilities lower down the order can’t be undermined by any stretch of the imagination.

Colin Munro- New Zealand

Munro recently played for Trinbago Knight Riders and Balkh Legends and hence has been amongst T20 cricket for quite a while now. He has already scored three international centuries in the format and a lot would depend on how he plays on how the left-hander plays inside the fielding restrictions. Needless to say that Pakistan would be hoping to dismiss him at the earliest.

Head to Head

Overall

Matches – 18 | Pakistan won – 10 | New Zealand won – 8 | NR/Tie – 0

In the UAE

Matches – 4 | Pakistan won – 3 | New Zealand won – 1 | NR/Tie – 0

Stat Attack

95– Runs Babar Azam needs in the next three T20I innings to break Virat Kohli’s record of fastest to 1000 T20I runs.

2– Shadab Khan needs two more wickets to go past Saeed Ajmal’s 25 wickets in 2012; the most by a Pakistan bowler in a T20I calendar year. He has taken 24 T20I wickets in 2018.

Broadcast Details

TV – Sony Six and Sony Six HD

Live Streaming – Sony LIV

Match Timings: 21:30 IST | 20:00 local

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