New Zealand elect to field first against Pakistan in first T20I

March 16, 2025 admin No Comment 17 Views

The toss is taking place between the captains of Pakistan and New Zealand — Salman Ali Agha and Michael Bracewell — for the T20I series opener in Christchurch. — X/ICC/File

Hasan Nawaz making debut as batter in place of Babar Azam.
Skipper Agha hopes team will produce better results.
Says debutants have chance to perform at international level.

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first against Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan in the opening match of the five-game T20I series starting today at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Pakistan’s squad includes three uncapped players – Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Ali – who earned call-ups to the national side following their impressive performances in recent domestic events.

Opening batter Hasan Nawaz is making his international debut. He is accompanying wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris at the top of the order.

Hasan is filling the void left by star batter Babar Azam, who is absent from the T20I squad.

Salman Ali Agha, who led the team to a 2-1 T20I series win in Zimbabwe in his first series as captain, said: “The team’s preparations are going well, and we will try to produce better results in New Zealand.”

“We have some young players in the side, and it is an opportunity for them to showcase their talent at the international level after performing well in domestic cricket.”

Hitting the field for the white-ball series opener, Pakistan have an upper hand over New Zealand in the 44 T20I contests between the two sides with 23 wins while the Black Caps have secured victory in 19 fixtures.

The last T20I series featuring the two sides, which was played in Pakistan in 2024, finished with a 2-2 scoreline with one match abandoned due to rain.

The second match will be played at University Oval in Dunedin on 18 March, while the third match of the series will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on 21 March. The fourth and fifth T20Is will be played at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui and Sky Stadium in Wellington on 23 and 26 March, respectively.

A three-match ODI series will follow the T20I action and will be played from 29 March to 5 April.

T20I squad:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousaf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan

Player Support Personnel – Naveed Akram Cheema (team manager), Aqib Javed (interim head coach), Azhar Mahmood (assistant coach), Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Mohammad Masroor (fielding coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saiman (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Butt (analyst), Irtiza Komail (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media and digital manager) and Sergio Basil Mullins (masseur).