RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — The 2009 champion Pakistan is aiming to tick all the right boxes in its preparation phase ahead of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup as it gears up for the five-match series under comeback captain Babar Azam against an understrength New Zealand.
Rawalpindi will host the first three games from Thursday. The remaining two games will be staged at Lahore on April 25 and 27 as both squads build up to the world tournament being staged in the United States and Caribbean in June.
Babar returns as white-ball captain and will lead the squad for the third successive T20 World Cup. He replaces Shaheen Shah Afridi, who lost to the Black Caps 4-1 earlier this year in his maiden series as Pakistan’s T20 skipper.
Babar led Pakistan to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in 2021 in the United Arab Emirates, where it lost to eventual champion Australia, and also skippered the side beaten by England at Melbourne in the 2022 edition.
How the New Zealand Falcons are tackling stigma against LGBT people in sports
'Thank you Bob': Search for plane's blown
NZ report card 2023: near the top of the class in some areas, bottom in others
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
COP28 deal 'significant step forward', Climate Change Minister says
Rātana celebrations begin, discussions from Hui aa Motu expected to continue
US launches more strikes against Houthis in Yemen
Adams, Reyna, Turner, Ream are US concerns ahead of Copa America
US and UK navies repel largest Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
Week in Politics: Government's year starts with a problem