LAHORE: While New Zealand stand depleted at the hands of the ongoing Indian Premier League, Pakistan are spoilt for choice.

Ahead of the first clash of their five-match T20 International series against the Black Caps — set to be played here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday — hosts Pakistan welcome back their top-notch players including captain Babar Azam and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi with the visitors without eight of their first-choice personnel, who are currently featuring in the IPL across the border.

Nine players of New Zealand’s Tom Latham-led squad, however, were part of the side that beat Pakistan 2-1 in the three-match One-day International series, which speaks volumes about the team’s potential to repeat the feat.

The return for Pakistan’s seniors in batters Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan and pacer Haris Rauf along with Babar and Shaheen — all rested for the side’s recent three-match T20 series against Afghanistan — along with the inclusion of three exciting prospects in form of opener Saim Ayub and pacers Ihsanullah and Zaman Khan means the hosts have multiple options to choose from.

With the next T20 World Cup set to be held in the summer of 2024, Pakistan may have considered experimenting with their standard strategies in the format — like they did against Afghanistan — but skipper Babar did not seem too keen to do that.

Despite the availability of explosive openers Fakhar, Saim — a revelation in the HBL Pakistan Super League — and Mohammad Haris, Babar and Rizwan will continue to open the batting for Pakistan.

“We are not planning to experiment much,” Babar said of the opening positions during the pre-series press conference here on Thursday. “At the moment, we will continue with myself and Rizwan’s opening partnership then we’ll see who fits in according to the situation.”

The elegant right-hander was full of praise for openers in his squad for their comfort with floating around the batting order and delivering according to the team’s requirements wherever they play.

“Haris and Shan [Masood] have played at number four,” he said. “We have made it clear to these players that they will not necessarily play as openers. In fact, they have delivered in other positions as well.

“It’s the same with Saim; the good thing with youngsters is that they don’t wish to play on a particular position and are ready to perform according to what’s required from them.”

The pace attack, bolstered by Ihsanullah and Zaman, may see tweaks across the five matches with the duo having shown their prowess to agitate batters in the PSL as well as against Afghanistan.

“They have definitely bolstered our bowling line-up and have performed very well in the PSL and Afghanistan series,” Babar said of the bowlers. “We’ll look to give them chances and help them establish themselves in the coming games.”

Babar expected the pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium to play in the batters’ favour.

“The standards of the pitches have improved, as we saw in the PSL,” he observed. “Today, too, the wicket looks good. As a bowling unit, it’s important to utilise the first six overs and take as many wickets as possible.

“With the bat, the start is important and then carrying on the momentum. It looks like 180, 190 or even 200, is possible on this one.”

LATHAM CONFIDENT

New Zealand captain Latham, who was recently given a proper go in the format, was undeterred by the factors that may play against his team on the Pakistan tour.

Apart from not having their best players, the Black Caps, having arrived in the wee hours of Tuesday, had their lone training session ahead of the series on Thursday.

Latham, however, believed that as professionals he would expect his players to settle in easily.

“In international cricket, players have to adopt the local conditions quickly and they are used to it,” said the left-hander. “We are here after winning against Sri Lanka at home and that victory gave us confidence. We will try to play best cricket against the a top team in Pakistan,”

The visiting skipper said his team will take confidence from their ODI series victory in January, in which Pakistan were undone in conditions of their own favour.

“Yes, Pakistan is the top team but our team has won ODI matches in Karachi where we played big knocks,” he said.

New Zealand’s interim coach Shane Jurgensen was also confident despite missing so many players.

“It will be a quick turnaround from the fantastic series win against Sri Lanka,” said Jurgensen of New Zealand’s 2-1 T20 victory.

Former Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq will be Jurgensen’s assistant — just two months after completing his stint with the hosts.

“It will be a challenging series,” Jurgensen said. “Obviously Pakistan are a fantastic team to play in the white-ball format, so it’s a good opportunity to challenge them.”

The remaining four T20 matches are on April 15 and 17 in Lahore, and 20 and 24 in Rawalpindi. The T20 series will be followed by as many ODIs, honing preparations for this year’s 50-over World Cup in India.

PAKISTAN: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zaman Khan

NEW ZEALAND: Tom Latham (captain), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Will Young, Dane Cleaver, Cole McConchie, Blair Tickner

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2023