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Pakistan cricket team is gearing up for a five-match T20I bilateral series against New Zealand, commencing on Friday, January 12.
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This series holds significance for Pakistan as it marks their first T20I series of the year, launching their preparations for the T20 World Cup scheduled for June.
New Zealand have unveiled its squad for the home series, with star batsman Kane Williamson leading the side in this eagerly awaited bilateral encounter. The return of fast bowler Matt Henry, who was sidelined due to injury, adds depth to the New Zealand squad.
In preparation for the series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former pacer Yasir Arafat as a ‘high-performance coach’ for the New Zealand tour. Arafat steps in for Simon Helmot, who is unavailable due to personal commitments.
Shaheen Afridi is set to captain the Pakistan side in T20Is for the first time. As the team looks ahead to the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States of America, Afridi aims to establish a stable playing combination. The inclusion of Aamer Jamal and young talent Saim Ayub adds depth to the squad.
New Zealand vs Pakistan: Schedule & Fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Time (IST) | Venue |
| January 12 | 1st T20 | 12:40 pm | Auckland |
| January 14 | 2nd T20 | 12:40 pm | Hamilton |
| January 17 | 3rd T20 | 6:30 am | Dunedin |
| January 19 | 4th T20 | 12:40 pm | Christchurch |
| January 21 | 5th T20 | 6:30 am | Christchurch |
Where to watch New Zealand vs Pakistan first T20I in India?
| Series | TV | Live Stream |
| New Zealand vs Pakistan | TBC | TBC |
Where to watch New Zealand vs Pakistan first T20I in Pakistan?
| Series | TV | Live Stream |
| New Zealand vs Pakistan | PTV Sports | PTV Sports |
New Zealand & Pakistan squads:
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee
Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Abrar Ahmed, Abbas Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Zaman Khan, Haseebullah Khan, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed
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