Saim Ayub shines before New Zealand overpower Pakistan in first T20
Shaheen Afridi's debut as Pakistan's T20 captain did not go according to plan, as New Zealand triumphed by 46 runs in a high-scoring T20 series opener in Auckland on Friday.
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Shaheen Afridi's debut as Pakistan's T20 captain did not go according to plan, as New Zealand triumphed by 46 runs in a high-scoring T20 series opener in Auckland on Friday.
Tim Southee became the first player to 150 wickets in Twenty20 internationals as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs Friday in their series opener in Auckland. Veteran seam bowler Southee claimed four wickets to pass the milestone and help dismiss the tourists for 180 in the 18th over in response to New Zealand's imposing 226-8, handing them first blood in the five-match series. Southee's figures of 4-25 were the best of a run-dominated encounter at Eden Park and took him to 151 wickets in T20 internationals, 11 more than Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan.
Desert Vipers have moved to combat the issue of fluid availability within their squad by signing Mohammed Amir for the second season of the DP World International League T20.
Shaheen Afridi's debut as Pakistan's T20 captain ended in a 46-run defeat against New Zealand in the series opener in Auckland on Friday.
New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner will not be featuring in the first T20I of the five-match series against Pakistan on Friday after being tested positive for COVID-19. The first T20I of the five-match series between New Zealand and Pakistan will take place today at Auckland's Eden Park. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the news of the all-rounder's infection. "Mitch Santner won't travel to Eden Park this evening for the opening KFC T20I against Pakistan after testing positive for COVID earlier today. He will continue to be monitored over the coming days and will travel solo home to Hamilton. #NZvPAK," tweeted NZC.
New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I Live Score And Updates:Shaheen Afridi takes charge as Pakistan's full-time skipper, taking over the reins from Babar Azam, as the sub-continent giants look to put the Australia heartbreak behind them in the T20I series against another team from Down Under, New Zealand. Shaheen's elevation as the team's captain isn't the only change that Pakistan have brought in, with some fresh faces also expected to be seen, while new combinations at the top of the batting-order are also likely to be deployed. The Kiwis, on the other hand, will miss Mitchell Santner for the match as he has been tested positive for Covid-19. Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi won the toss and opted to field first. (LIVE Scorecard)
Pakistan are expected to go for a new opening pair in the T20 series in New Zealand with Muhammad Rizwan to partner young Saim Ayub instead of Babar Azam. According to reports from Auckland, the team management had Rizwan and Saim batting in the nets against the new ball bowlers while Babar and Fakhar Zaman had their knocks against mainly spinners in the other nets. Babar and Rizwan have opened pretty successfully for Pakistan in the T20 format since 2021 but apparently new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, new high performance coach Yasir Arafat and the team director Muhammad Hafeez are keen to try out something new against New Zealand in the five-match series beginning on January 12.
Pakistan cricket received a shot in the arm after the media rights for its most prized asset, the Pakistan Super League, witnessed a substantial jump.