RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Sept 15, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Pakistan's new backroom
team are seeking an immediate impact when their one-day international team
face a largely second-string New Zealand in a home series for the first time
since 2003 this week.
International cricket in Pakistan was suspended in the aftermath of terror
attacks on the Sri Lanka side in 2009 and heavy security surrounds the first
of three one-day internationals in Rawalpindi on Friday.
Former captain Ramiz Raja has vowed to transform the sixth-ranked ODI team
after being appointed chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday after
a shake-up in the team's backroom staff.
His elevation came just a week after head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling
coach Waqar Younis stepped down for personal reasons.
Former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq replaced Misbah while former all-
rounder Abdul Razzaq was appointed his assistant.
Raja also announced that Australian great Matthew Hayden and South African
Vernon Philander have been recruited as batting and bowling coaching
consultants ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup next month.
Top-ranked New Zealand are without many of their top players -- who are
instead heading to the UAE for the Indian Premier League -- including captain
and leading batsman Kane Williamson, and pace bowling trio Trent Boult, Tim
Southee and Kyle Jamieson.
But Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is not taking his opponents lightly,
despite the raft of missing star names.
"It would have been nicer had their best team come," said Babar, who
scored a brilliant hundred in the last ODI between the two teams in the 2019
World Cup at Edgbaston.
"But whatever the composition of their team we will play to our best and
win the series."
New Zealand have won 12 of their last 15 ODIs against Pakistan, but their
inexperienced side has just suffered a 3-2 Twenty20 series defeat in
Bangladesh under stand-in skipper Tom Latham.
- New challenge -
Conditions in Pakistan will be a new challenge for New Zealand, who last
toured Pakistan 18 years ago.
Pakistan did host series against the Black Caps in the UAE in 2009, 2014
and 2018 but improved security has gradually seen the country over the past
six years be able to welcome international teams to their country again.
"It's obviously very pleasing for Pakistan as a nation to have
international cricket back," said Latham.
"They've had a couple of series in recent times and obviously this is
another one.
"So, for us, it's just about trying to adapt to conditions like we did in
Bangladesh and see what we get. So, another opportunity for the group and
they're all looking forward to it."
Apart from the heavy security presence in Rawalpindi, teams are also
having to endure life inside a bio-secure bubble because of the coronavirus
pandemic.
Crowds of fully vaccinated spectators up to 25 percent capacity will be
allowed in Rawalpindi for the ODIs and in Lahore, where five Twenty20
internationals will be played.
The series will not count towards the ICC World Cup Super League, which
will decide qualification for the 2023 50-over World Cup, because there is no
umpire decision review system in operation.
The second and third ODIs will be played in Rawalpindi on Sunday and
Tuesday with the five-match Twenty20 international series beginning in Lahore
on Saturday, September 25.
Pakistan (from): Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf,
Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil
Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan,
Mohammad Wasim Junior, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi,
Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Zahid Mahmood
New Zealand (from): Tom Latham (captain), Finn Allen, Hamish Bennett, Tom
Blundell, Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Scott
Kuggeleijn, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra,
Blair Tickner, Will Young