PAK vs NZ Match Preview- 3rd T20I, 2024

The third PAK vs NZ T20I will be played in Dunedin on January 17, 2024. The match starts at 5 am IST which is 1 pm local time. Pakistan lost the first two games and is facing a must-win situation heading into the third T20I. 

Pakistan hasn’t won a single T20I series, having lost to Australia, England, and even Afghanistan. They drew the T20I series against Pakistan in 2023 and now are looking to avoid a series defeat heading into the third T20I. 

Pakistan is led by Shaheen Afridi who did not have the best of starts in this T20I captaincy career. The management criticized the bowling attack for conceding too many runs in the first two games and have made changes to the playing XI.

Also Read: Abbas Afridi Ruled Out Of PAK vs NZ 3rd T20I Due To Abdominal Strain 

New Zealand also have their concerns, Regular skipper Kane Williamson is ruled out with an injury once again. He picked up a hamstring injury on the right leg the one in which he had the knee injury. Williamson returned to the squad during the World Cup and since then his injury was constantly monitored. Williamson was to be rested in the third T20I if not for his injury. 

Pakistan and New Zealand have played 36 T20Is with Pakistan winning 20 matches and New Zealand 15. The series at home gives the Kiwis a chance to get closer to Pakistan in the format. The Kiwis are ranked third in the ICC T20I rankings while Pakistan is fourth.

PAK vs NZ Match Preview- 3rd T20I, 2024

New Zealand 

Mitchell Santner will lead the Kiwis in the absence of Kane Williamson in the remaining games. Tim Seifert will replace Williamson in the XI and also take over the keeping duties from Devon Conway. Lockie Ferguson will also return to the playing XI after missing the first two games due to an Achilles injury. 

The Kiwis have injury concerns heading into this game. They are without Trent Boult and James Neesham who are playing domestic T20I leagues. All-rounder Kyle Jamieson is ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Many players who played in the T20I series against Bangladesh are part of this T20I squad. Fast bowler Ben Sears was available for just the first two games before making way for the returning Ferguson. They have notched up back-to-back wins and will be confident about completing a series win in Dunedin. 

New Zealand Squad: Kane Williamson (c) [games 1, 2, 4 & 5], Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson [game 3 only], Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson [games 3, 4 & 5], Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears [games 1 & 2], Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

Pakistan 

Pakistan have already announced their playing XI for the third t20I. The PCB has included Mohammad Nawaz in place of Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Wasim Jr in place of spinner Usama Mir. They are still lacking an experienced spinner Shadab Khan who is not part of the side. 

As said earlier, since 2022, Pakistan hasn’t won a single T20I series having lost to teams like Australia, England, and even New Zealand. Shaheen is under the pump in his very first assignment as the T20I skipper of the national team. 

The decision to make him the T20I skipper was taken after Pakistan’s disastrous campaign in the World Cup. Shaheen was chosen as the T20I skipper with Shan Masood the Test skipper with Babar Azam stepping down from captaincy. 

PCB has also decided to demote Babar Azam in the batting order. He opened the batting in T20Is while being the skipper of the side but is now expected to bat in the middle-order. Another key omission is Shadab Khan, who was the vice-captain of the side under Babar’s leadership. 

Pakistan Squad: Shaheen Afridi (c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Aamer Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed (Withdrawn), Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

Also Read: Ramiz Raja Slams Saim Ayub And Azam Khan Amid Pakistan’s Disastrous Show In New Zealand