An unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand : New Zealand brought in Cole McConkie to replace the ill Josh Clarkson.
New Zealand Vs Toss Pakistan opts to bowl
An unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand: Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl against New Zealand in the second T20I in Rawalpindi on Saturday evening.
Babar Azam named an unchanged side from the first T20I, which was washed out by rain after just two balls on Thursday. Fortunately, the forecast for the second T20 is clear , An unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand to bat in a clean Rawalpindi
New Zealand has made a big change in their XI from the previous match. They replaced right-arm medium-pacer Josh Clarkson, who was ill and did not field, with offspin-bowling all-rounder Cole McConchie.
McConchie has played nine T20s so far, the last of which came against the United Arab Emirates in August 2023. Although his score just 84 runs in 7 innings with the bat, his numbers with the ball are solid: 22.71 for 7 and an economy rate of just 7.17.
An unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand .Meanwhile, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan has been ruled out of the entire series as radiology reports confirmed a Grade 1 tear in his right calf muscle.
An unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand to bat in a clean Rawalpindi (Pakistan): 1 Babar Azam (captain), 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), 4 Usman Khan, 5 Iftikhar Ahmed, 6 Irfan Khan, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Naseem Shah, 11 Abrar Ahmed.
An unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand to bat in a clean Rawalpindi (New Zealand) : 1 Tim Robinson, 2 Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), 3 Dean Foxcroft, 4 Mark Chapman, 5 James Neesham, 6 Michael Bracewell (captain), 7 Cole McConchie, 8 Ish Sodhi, 9 Jacob Duffy, 10 Ben Sears, 11 Ben Lister.
An unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand to bat in a clean Rawalpindi
An unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand: In a scene reminiscent of cricketing glory days, Pakistan’s national cricket team took to the field against New Zealand in a highly anticipated match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The sun beat down on the lush green outfield as the captains gathered for the toss. Pakistan, true to its tradition, opted to maintain its unchanged lineup from the previous match, displaying confidence in their players’ abilities.
With the toss won, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, chose to put New Zealand into bat—a strategic decision aimed at exploiting the early morning conditions known for swing and seam movement. The Rawalpindi pitch, renowned for favoring pace bowlers early on, promised an exhilarating contest between bat and ball andAn unchanged Pakistan asks New Zealand to bat in a clean Rawalpindi.
As the New Zealand openers strode out to the middle, the Pakistan team prepared for battle. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s premier fast bowler, took the new ball, his eyes gleaming with determination. He charged in, his run-up smooth and effortless, generating pace and bounce that troubled the batsmen from the outset.
The atmosphere crackled with excitement as Shaheen and his fellow pacers relentlessly attacked the Kiwi batsmen. The Pakistani fielders backed up their bowlers with electrifying energy, diving and sliding to cut off boundaries and create pressure.
New Zealand, however, was not to be underestimated. Their batsmen weathered the storm, playing with caution and skill to negotiate the challenging conditions. Kane Williamson, their captain and linchpin, anchored the innings with his trademark composure, while the likes of Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls provided steady support.
Despite the Pakistani bowlers’ onslaught, New Zealand managed to build a respectable total, capitalizing on loose deliveries and rotating the strike effectively. The crowd, a sea of green and white, erupted into applause at every boundary and wicket.
As the day wore on, the sun climbed higher, and the pitch gradually eased out, offering less assistance to the bowlers. Pakistan’s spinners came into play, probing for breakthroughs as the Kiwi batsmen pushed for acceleration.
In the end, New Zealand finished their innings with a competitive total, setting Pakistan a challenging target to chase. As the players left the field for the innings break, the Rawalpindi crowd buzzed with anticipation, eager to see their team’s response.
The stage was set for an enthralling contest, where Pakistan’s batsmen would have to showcase their skill and resolve against a formidable New Zealand bowling attack. As the players returned to the field, the Rawalpindi faithful braced themselves for a thrilling chase, hoping for their team to emerge victorious in this captivating encounter.