Pakistan will host New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series at the Pindi Cricket Stadium tomorrow (Saturday).
Under the leadership of Babar Azam, who was recently re-appointed as white-ball captain, the Green Shirts will begin their preparations for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup as the first match was called off after just two balls due to persistent rain.
As the players didn’t get a chance to play in the first match, both teams are likely to keep the same playing XI which took the ground on April 18 on a rainy night in Rawalpindi.
Remember, Imad Wasim, who recently took his retirement back, wasn’t included in the playing XI of the first match. The decision to bench the 35-year-old wasn’t welcomed by the cricket fraternity but he is likely to warm the bench tomorrow.
Likely lineups
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, James Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi
While the first match didn’t see anything other than the never-ending rain, the chances of rain have reduced ahead of the second T20I between the two sides on Saturday, according to The Weather Channel.
The chance of rain on April 20 is considerably less at 24 percent as compared to Thursday’s 49 for the same day.
Chances are also bright that fans will get to see a complete match on Sunday, when the third T20I will take place since the weather forecast says that there will be clear skies with a chance of rain at only 12 percent.
After the first three matches at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, both sides will move to Lahore, where they will play the remaining two T20Is of the series on 25 and 27 April, respectively.
The series is being broadcast live on Pakistan’s first sports channel Geo Super.
Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series schedule
April 18 — 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
April 20 — 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi
April 21 — 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi
April 25 — 4th T20I, Lahore
April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore