Pakistan and New Zealand ODI series start today
Pakistan and New Zealand will start their three ODI matches series in Karachi today. Both the teams are entering the series after an unfavourable Test series which resulted in a draw. Pakistan had previously lost the Test series against England as well in which they were they were whitewashed.
The captain Babar Azam however feels confident about his team’s performance in the limited overs series and said, “Pakistan has proved themselves to be a good white-ball team, and this series provides us a perfect launching pad to kickstart our World Cup preparations.”
He also added, “We are a well-rounded side with solid batters and bowlers who have proved themselves time and again so I am confident of doing well in the coming series.”
When questioned about his performance and the recent criticism he has faced the 28-year-old said, “My job is to play cricket and enjoy it. I don’t need to satisfy or answer anyone. I know what my game is and my responsibilities are as a batsman and captain. My job is to win matches for Pakistan.”
The New Zealand squad led by Kane Williamson are the runners up of the last World Cup and hope to get this one in the bag, the skipper who has recently given up the Test captaincy said, “I felt that continuing to captain the white-ball formats was preferable with two World Cups in the next two years,”
He further added, “For us as a team it’s focusing on the cricket we want to play and try put out some improved performances.”
Both the teams have seen some changes in their ODI squad. In the Pakistan team batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail are added and pacer Haris Rauf makes a comeback while Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are left out due to their injuries. For the New Zealand squad, pacers Adam Milne, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson aren’t included in the squad and now Matt Henry has also been excluded due to abdominal strain.
Playing XI for 1st ODI:
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Haris Sohail, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson
The second and third ODIs will be played on January 11 and 13 in Karachi