New Zealand’s home summer picks up as they welcome Pakistan, who have hopped the Tasman after putting up a great fight in Australia.
For the Black Caps, the opposition will be a big step up, especially because of the pace stocks and explosive top-order batters that Pakistan have brought on the trip.
Both sides will view this as vital preparation for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States. As always in New Zealand, the weather is a constant threat to the action.
The series starts at a venue that has become infamous in T20 cricket for its ludicrously short straight boundaries that are no match for batters who spend almost as much time in the gym as they do on the nets wielding absurdly powerful bats.
It is probably not for the purists, but there is a particular attraction to cricket played at Eden Park. The ground has rather incredibly hosted four tied T20Is, including the most recent match played there when Sri Lanka and New Zealand ended up in a dead heat.
To Win Match
New Zealand 67/100 | Tie 25/1 | Pakistan 5/4
New Zealand were poor in their series against Bangladesh mainly due to not getting the kind of starts they would have liked with the bat.
Kane Williamson, who hasn’t played a T20I since New Zealand’s clash against Bangladesh in November 2022, will skipper the Black Caps in the opening two matches before being rested for the third match.
Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Tim Southee should form the pace trio for New Zealand, with Lockie Ferguson not available for the first two T20Is.
New Zealand have a call to make on whether to shake up the opening partnership of Finn Allen and Time Seifert with Devon Conway once again available for selection.
Pakistan have won 19 of their 29 T20Is against New Zealand, but the last time they faced the Black Caps in a five-match series, it ended in a 2-2 draw.
Shaheen Afridi has been appointed T20I skipper for this series and caused controversy when he asked to miss the third Test against Australia to be fresh for the task.
Sahibzada Farhan, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Haseebullah Khan and Abrar Ahmed could all make their T20I debuts for Pakistan.
If Fakhar Zaman can fire, Pakistan’s top order will be upgraded from explosive to rocket-propelled. Mohammad Rizwan is the form batter in the group and an excellent pick to end as the leading scorer for Pakistan.
Verdict: Pakistan 5/4
Pakistan will come out firing here after a tour to Australia, where they feel they did not get what they deserved.
