Pakistan Playing XI Announced For PAK vs NZ 3rd T20I, Make Three Changes

Pakistan, on Tuesday (January 16), announced their playing eleven for the must-win third T20I against New Zealand. The third match of the five-match series is scheduled to be played at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday (January 17).

The Shaheen Afridi-led side is on the verge of conceding the series after losing the first two games. A defeat in the upcoming game will see them concede the series with two matches remaining. In the first two games, Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the New Zealand batters.

In the series-opener in Auckland, New Zealand piled up a huge total of 226/8 to register their highest-ever score against Pakistan in the format. In reply, the Men in Green were bowled out for 180 runs to suffer a 46-run defeat. In the second game, New Zealand defeated the visitors by 21 runs. The Black Caps scored 194/8 before bowling out Pakistan for 173.

Pakistan Playing XI for third T20I:

With the series online, Pakistan have made three changes to their playing eleven. After the bowlers’ struggle in the first two games, the tourists have dropped Aamer Jamal, and Usama Mir from the playing eleven while Abbas Afridi has been ruled out of the game due to an abdominal strain.

In the second game, Jamal conceded 42 runs in 4 overs and managed to pick up 1 wicket. On the other hand, Mir picked up 1 wicket for 39 runs. Afridi was also expensive as he conceded 43 runs even though he picked up 2 wickets. Afridi had impressed in the first game, taking 3 wickets for 34 runs on his debut. They have been replaced by Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, and Zaman Khan in the Pakistan Playing XI.

The tourists will be desperate to win the third game to keep the series alive and improve their record in bilateral series in recent times. Since 2022, Pakistan have not won a single T20I series while losing to Australia, England as well as Afghanistan during this period.

Pakistan playing XI for third T20I: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi (C), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan