Pakistan and New Zealand enter World Cup mode with ODI series

Pakistan and New Zealand are set to face each other in a five-match one-day series starting on Thursday in Rawalpindi, which will be a crucial build-up to the World Cup in India in October-November. This series offers both teams the opportunity to assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of the World Cup.

In a surprising turn of events, the Black Caps managed to square a preceding five-match Twenty20 series 2-2, despite missing eight players including their captain Kane Williamson, due to the ongoing Indian Premier League or injuries. Under the leadership of stand-in captain Tom Latham, New Zealand adapted skillfully to the conditions, coming back from 2-0 down to win the third and fifth matches. The fourth match was abandoned due to rain.

Middle-order batter Mark Chapman has been added to the ODI squad after his incredible performance in the T20 series, scoring 290 runs for just one dismissal, which is the most runs by a batter in a five-match T20I series.The ODI squad also includes wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell and middle-order batter Henry Nicholls, who were recently included in the five best cricketers of the year by Wisden, further strengthening the New Zealand team.

“It’s a new format and we have to adapt quickly for this challenging series,” said Latham, whose team are second behind Australia in the ODI rankings.On the other hand, Pakistan, who are currently ranked fifth, will depend heavily on skipper Babar Azam, the world’s top-ranked ODI batter for the last two years. “These five matches are crucial for our World Cup preparation,” said Azam. “We have eight ODIs plus the Asia Cup (to get ready) and we will be utilizing them to be well prepared.”

Pakistan have won five of the seven ODI series that Azam has captained, with his two losses coming against England in 2021 and New Zealand in January this year. However, New Zealand has had the upper hand over Pakistan in recent years. In the last six ODI series between them, New Zealand has won five and drawn one, with their last series defeat against Pakistan at home in 2011.The remaining matches of the current series will take place in Rawalpindi on Saturday, followed by Karachi on May 3, 5, and 7.

The teams include Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Usama Mir for Pakistan.

For New Zealand, Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell, Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, and Will Young will be playing.