An inexperienced New Zealand white-ball group will goal to hold its robust Twenty20 performances over to the five-match ODI sequence towards Pakistan when it begins Thursday.
Anchored by participant of the sequence Mark Champan’s unbeaten century within the fifth and ultimate recreation, New Zealand drew the T20 sequence 2-2 after shedding the primary two matches at Lahore.
“We were probably a little bit underdone, but I think from game to game we got better and better,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham advised reporters on the eve of the primary ODI at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. “Now we’ve got a couple of changes in the squad and from our point of view, it’s just about trying to play our brand of cricket as best we can.
“The performances and the momentum that we’ve potentially built through the T20s, hopefully, we can take that straight into the game tomorrow.”
New Zealand included Chapman for the five-match ODI sequence in Pakistan after the left-hander scored 290 runs in 5 matches and was dismissed simply as soon as. Tom Blundell and Henry Nicholls have additionally joined the squad for the ODI sequence as New Zealand is touring Pakistan with out eight of its frontline white-ball gamers, who’re busy enjoying within the Indian Premier League.
“Mark Chapman has been in fantastic form throughout that T20 series,” Latham stated of the middle-order batter, who has performed seven ODIs however hasn’t featured within the 50-over format for New Zealand since July 2022. “The way he played not only in that last game but also the game beforehand, it’s obviously great that we can we can include him in the squad as well.”
Latham was not keen to stay up for the World Cup in India later this 12 months when a number of of his countrymen enjoying within the IPL will seemingly be in rivalry.
“We’re trying to not look too far ahead,” Latham stated. “There’s a World Cup coming up in a few months, but if we look too far ahead, we’ll probably lose focus of the job at hand here over the next two weeks. So we’re looking forward to the challenge and hopefully, we can play well.”
Pakistan, beneath its all-format captain Babar Azam, has a below-par house season that noticed them shedding the T20 sequence towards England at house earlier than the T20 World Cup in Australia.
England additionally made a 3-0 clear sweep within the take a look at sequence, whereas New Zealand drew the take a look at sequence 0-0 earlier than profitable a three-match ODI sequence 2-1 earlier this 12 months.
Pakistan has added wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris to the squad as a part of its build-up for the World Cup. Pakistan can also be scheduled to play three ODIs towards Afghanistan in August and the Asia Cup in September earlier than the World Cup in India.
“Each and every match that we play from now on holds a great significance for us,” Azam stated. “This series is a brilliant opportunity for us to fine-tune our combinations and gather the momentum ahead of the mega events.”
Pakistan has beefed up its batting lineup with the inclusion of Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail and Abdullah Shafique whereas leg-spinner Usama Mir additionally returns after being ignored for the T20 sequence.
Rawalpindi will host the primary ODIs earlier than Karachi hosts the remaining three ODIs.
Full squads
Pakistan
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir.
New Zealand
Tom Latham (captain), Adam Milne, Ben Lister, Blair Tickner, Chad Bowes, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell and Will Young.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com