The two sides last met in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Sydney. Pakistan won the match by seven wickets after New Zealand posted 152/4 in 20 overs. New Zealand would look to avenge their big defeat in the upcoming series.
PAK vs NZ Head-to-head
Matches: 29
Pakistan: 18
New Zealand: 11
PAK vs NZ Team News
Pakistan have selected a full-strength squad for the series and the likes of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammed Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman have returned.
New Zealand will be without many of their key players because of the IPL 2023. The likes of Devon Conway, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips are all in India for the cash-rich league. Kane Williamson was also part of IPL 2023 but he is injured now.
Pakistan vs New Zealand squads
Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is: Babar Azam (C), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Ihsanullah, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Zaman Khan
New Zealand squad for Pakistan T20Is: Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Cole McConchie, Tom Latham (C), Dane Cleaver, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Matt Henry
PAK vs NZ Dream11 prediction: Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st T20I
Wicketkeeper: Mohammed Rizwan
Batsman: Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Tom Latham, Fakhar Zaman
All-rounder: Shadab Khan, Daryl Mitchell, Imad Wasim
Bowler: Haris Rauf, Matt Henry, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Captain and vice-captain choices: Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi can make a good captain and vice-captain choice
The second T20I will be played at the same venue on Saturday, April 15.
