Pak vs NZ: Pakistan bowl first after winning toss in 1st ODI

Rawalpindi: Pak vs NZ .In the opening match of the five-match ODI series held at Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan captain Babar Azam made the decision to put New Zealand into bat after winning the toss.

Unfortunately, batsman Haris Sohail, who sustained an injury during a practice session, has been left out of the team.

Babar expressed confidence in the pitch, stating that it would be more favourable for batting later in the day. New Zealand captain Tom Latham supported Pakistan’s choice and mentioned that they would have also chosen to bowl first if they had won the toss.

Pak vs NZ toss

“Our team’s spirits are high after our victory in the final T20I.”

This ODI series provides both teams with an opportunity to assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of the World Cup scheduled for October-November in India.

Pak vs NZ and Kane Williamson

Despite missing eight players, including Kane Williamson, due to the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) or injuries, the Black Caps surprised the home team by leveling the preceding five-match Twenty20 series 2-2.

Under the leadership of stand-in captain Latham, New Zealand adapted skillfully to the conditions, making a strong comeback from a 2-0 deficit to win the third and fifth matches. The fourth match was abandoned due to rain.

Middle-order batsman Mark Chapman has been included in the ODI squad after his impressive performance in the T20 series, where he scored 290 runs with just one dismissal, making it the highest individual score in a five-match T20I series.

Additionally, wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell, recently recognized as one of the top five cricketers of the year by Wisden, and middle-order batsman Henry Nicholls further strengthen the New Zealand squad.

Head-to-head, Pakistan has won five out of the seven ODI series under Azam’s captaincy. The two losses came against England in 2021 and New Zealand in January of this year.

However, New Zealand has shown recent dominance over Pakistan. Out of the last six ODI series between the two teams, New Zealand has won five and drawn one. Their last series defeat against Pakistan was at home in 2011.

The remaining matches of the current series will be held in Rawalpindi on Saturday, followed by Karachi on May 3, 5, and 7.

Playing XI:

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf

New Zealand: Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Mark Chapman, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner

Shahid Afridi criticize Shaheen Afridi’s performance

Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid - Editor Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid joins "To The Sports News" as an Editor, bringing a decade of comprehensive journalistic experience to our team. A respected Pakistani journalist, he has dedicated his career to covering a wide array of global issues across the world, demonstrating a deep understanding of complex subjects and a commitment to detailed reporting. Mr. Wahid has a background working with prominent print and electronic media organizations, including Channel Five TV, the newspaper "Khabrain," The Nation/Nawa-i-Waqt, NNI, Daily Sama, City 42, Star Asia, Waqt News, Daily The Business, and Daily The Khabrain. His work has covered areas such as Environment, Health, and Sports. He is also a member of the Lahore Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), highlighting his dedication to journalistic standards and diverse reporting. His academic background includes a BS Honors degree in Sociology and an MPhil from Punjab University, alongside a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sargodha. Furthermore, Mr. Wahid is a Ph.D. candidate in Journalism at Complutense University of Madrid, and has contributed to research on topics including the relationship of sports participation with achievement, motivation, and innovation traits among university students, and the effects of parental involvement on student participation in sports. With his extensive experience in covering diverse topics and his keen analytical skills, Mr. Azhar ul Haq Wahid is poised to lead our sports news coverage with depth, accuracy, and insightful perspectives, ensuring our readers receive top-tier journalistic content.

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