Written by: Waseem Abbas
Posted on: January 11, 2024 | 
| 中文
(L to R) Fakhar Zaman, Tim Southee and Babar Azam
Pakistan begins its preparations for the T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled in June later this year, with a five-game T20 series against New Zealand, starting on January 12. The newly-appointed Captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, along with his deputy, Muhammad Rizwan, will lead the national team for the first time against the Kiwis.
Pakistan has appointed 23-year-old Shaheen Shah Afridi as the captain of the national team, since Babar Azam abdicated his responsibility as a captain after a disastrous ODI World Cup 2023. While still a youngster, Shaheen was tipped as Babar's successor as the Lahore Qalandars clinched consecutive PSL titles under his leadership. Shaheen's appointment looks like a reasonable decision after Babar's exit, with Muhammad Rizwan as the other viable option for the leadership role, who has now been appointed as the vice-captain. Shadab Khan, another candidate for captaincy, has been out of form lately, in addition to concerns over his fitness, left selectors with Shaheen as the most suitable option.
(L to R) Pakistan’s Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, vice-captain Muhammad Rizwan and the head coach Muhammad Hafeez in New Zealand
Shaheen has championed an aggressive style of play, exemplified by the inclusion of players like Azam Khan, Saim Ayub and Abbas Afridi, amongst others. The Wahab Riaz-Muhammad Hafeez-led administration has 'rested' Muhammad Haris for the New Zealand Series, which seems odd given that he plays only T20Is for Pakistan and does not need rest. They could have given rest to players who are playing all three formats consistently. Haris is the only player in Pakistan who can be an opener and also perform in the middle order, while is also a good wicket-keeper. In his last two years, Muhammad Haris' T20 strike rate is the best among Pakistani batters, and he could make a difference going forward for Pakistan.
Muhammad Haris plays a reverse sweep shot against New Zealand in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022
New Zealand has announced a full-strength side for the series against Pakistan with the regular Captain Kane Williamson leading the side, while the likes of Tim Southee, Daryl Mitchel, Matt Henry, Gleen Philips, Mark Chapman, Fin Allen, Mitchel Santner and other T20 specialists are part of the team. New Zealand has a good opportunity to decrease Pakistan's lead in a head-to-head match, which currently reads 20 wins for Pakistan while 13 triumphs for the Kiwis. The smaller boundary sizes in New Zealand will lead to high-scoring games, especially in Christchurch, where boundary size is only 60 meters on some sides.
Team New Zealand
Pakistan's young Saim Ayub can do wonders if given the opportunity at the top, as his game is best suited to the T20 format. Saim's unflinching 33 against Australia in the second inning of the last test was evidence of his caliber and talent, and if nurtured properly, he can be Pakistan's David Warner. Pakistan is likely to open with Saim and Muhammad Rizwan, breaking the Rizwan-Babar duo after three years, who hold the record of Pakistan's five highest partnerships in T20Is. It is a difficult decision, but a needed one, given that both Rizwan and Babar take time before attacking. Saim's inclusion at the top will add the necessary fireworks to Pakistan's batting lineup. In the middle order, Azam Khan's recall is a tricky decision for the management, for though there is no doubt about Azam's batting capabilities, his fitness is an area of concern. Team management's compromise over Azam's fitness will set a precedent for other unfit cricketers to push for selection to the national team.
Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan, the famous opening pair
Pakistan has given young pacer Abbas Afridi a much-deserved national call after his impressive performance in PSL 2023 and the subsequent domestic season. Abbas is very adept in changing his line and length, can vary the speed and is a very good hitter of the ball down the order, which makes him a valuable prospect in T20 cricket for Pakistan. Aamer Jamal has been recalled to the T20 side after a blistering test series against Australia, where the fast-bowling all-rounder was by far Pakistan's most impactful player. If the Jamal experiment works, it will solve Pakistan's decade-long troubles of finding a good pace bowling all-rounder. Opener Sahibzada Farhan has also earned a national recall after impressing in domestic cricket for three consecutive years, while young wicket-keeper batsman Haseeb Ullah has also earned a national call-up, which looks a bit early for the youngster.
Team Pakistan (L to R) Muhammad Wasim Jn, Haseebullah Khan, Azam Khan, Usama Mir and Saim Ayub
For New Zealand, young Fin Allen can be a match-winner as his blistering knocks can change the dynamics of the game in no time. Wicket-keeper batter Tim Siefert is another player to look out for, as he is a global T20 league trotter and part of Karachi Kings in Pakistan Super League 2024. Mark Chapman will be a surprise factor for Pakistani bowlers to tackle. Mitchel Santner and Matt Henry are the bowlers who can create problems for Pakistani batsman.
If Pakistan plays to its full potential and as one unit, it has a very good chance of winning against the Kiwis. This series is going to set the tempo of the team going into the T20 World Cup, scheduled in the United States of America and West Indies from June 2nd to 29th.The first game of the Pak-NZ series is scheduled on the 12th of January in Auckland, the second in Hamilton on the 14th, the third on the 17th in Dunedin, the fourth on the 19th in Christchurch, and the last match of the series will be played on the 21st of January in the Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
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