Pakistan team has announced its playing 11 against the third New Zealand T20I. Both teams will go head-to-head tomorrow 17 January 2024 to play the series decider. At this point, the matches are must-win for Pakistan, and they must get serious. PCB has released the 11 Shaheens that will face off against the Kiwis in this must-win match in Dunedin. This article will tell you who these players are, some changes, and how the series has been. Let’s begin.
Check: Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20 series
Pakistan playing 11 against New Zealand in 3rd T20I
Here is the playing 11 for tomorrow’s match.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan | Wicket-keeper batsman |
| Saim Ayub | Batsman |
| Babar Azam | Batsman |
| Fakhar Zaman | Batsman |
| Iftikhar Ahmad | Batting allrounder |
| Azam Khan | Wicket-keeper Batsman |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Allrounder |
| Shaheen Afridi | Left-arm pacer |
| Mohammad Wasim | Right-arm pacer |
| Haris Rauf | Right-arm pacer |
| Zaman Khan | Right-arm pacer |
Three changes in the team
Now, let’s look at the three changes in this squad. Pakistan’s team has decided to change Aamer Jamal, Abbas Afridi, and Usama Mir for this match, And they have replaced them with Zaman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Mohammad Wasim.
So, instead of a fast-bowling allrounder, a fast bowler, and a legspinner, Pakistan has opted for two fast bowlers and a spin-bowling allrounder. Pakistan team management is testing out the spin option this time.
Mohammad Wasim and Zaman Khan are T20 specialists. Wasim has shown that he can bowl great when entering the rhythm. He is also a good tail-end option if things go south.
Zaman Khan took the most T20 wickets for any Pakistani in the calendar. This shows his excellence and great form. It was surprising how he wasn’t given a chance.
Nawaz is a surprise inclusion. Many eyes will be looking forward to how he does in this match. He has to redeem himself to keep his spot on the national side.
Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series so far
The tournament so far hasn’t been very great for Pakistan. They have lost two matches back-to-back. The first match was a disaster with many batting order changes. People criticized the management for making some rash decisions.
The second match could have been great if the top order had scored more runs.
The prominent players from Pakistan are Babar Azam, Fakhar, Rizwan, Haris Rauf, and Abbas Afridi.
Saim Ayub showed how dangerous he was in the first match. He has potential, but he has to cement his place consistently in the national squad in the T20 World Cup this year.
Match prediction – Concluding remarks
It is hard to say if this match is in Pakistan’s hands. However, this is the beauty of Pakistan cricket. They are unpredictable. They always have, and they always will be. With these three changes, Pakistan has made a bit of a gamble. Abbas Afridi was picking wickets, however, he is out. Let’s see if Wasim and Zaman can make up for it.