KARACHI: Babar Azam won the toss and decided that Pakistan will bat first against New Zealand today in Karachi.
After getting whitewashed by England 3-0 in a recently concluded Test series at home, the Babar Azam-led side will look to redeem themselves against New Zealand. On the other hand, New Zealand also faced a defeat against England in an away series in May. Since winning the inaugural World Test Championship final against India last year, New Zealand have won just two of nine matches, but will be skippered by fast bowler Tim Southee.
It is the first time New Zealand are playing in Pakistan in almost 20 years, which could’ve been 18 years actually, but the visitors pulled out of their tour just hours before their first game against Pakistan after arriving in the country in 2021.
Almost 13 years after his debut, Sarfaraz Ahmed makes a comeback to the Pakistan Test team after a gap of four years, plays his 50th Test match and his first ever in Pakistan. All of his previous 49 Test matches came outside Pakistan.
Five players from Karachi are getting to play in front of their home crowd today: Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Abrar Ahmed and Mir Hamza.
Mohammad Rizwan is dropped after playing 26 consecutive Test matches with a batting average of 39.
https://twitter.com/UbaidAwan/status/1607234099315445760
Mir Hamza finally gets to play his second Test match for Pakistan, his only previous Test came in 2018. He moves out of the list of one Test wonders for Pakistan, 46 players are in that list now.
Pakistan have now tried 19 different players in their last four home Test matches, 17 players were used in the series against England, while two more have joined today.
It is interesting to note that both New Zealand and Pakistan are coming off four consecutive Test losses. Which side will turn it around is remained to be seen.
Pakistan (Playing XI) – Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), Agha Salman, Nauman Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Mir Hamza, Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand (Playing XI) – Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(WK), Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (C), Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel.
