IPL 2024, PAK vs NZ: Babar Azam wins toss and elects to field, New Zealand make one change; know playing XIs here

Despite efforts to resume the match with a shortened format of five overs per side, only two balls could be bowled before the weather intervened again in the first T20I.

Atishay Jain

• Sat • 20 Apr 2024

Michael Bracewell (L) and Babar Azam (R). (PC: Getty).

Highlights:

The opening T20I clash between Pakistan and New Zealand was abandoned due to persistent rainfall.

Both teams will aim to secure a victory and take the lead in the second T20I.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the all-important toss and elected to field in the 2nd T20I against New Zealand at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Pakistan went in with the same playing XI while New Zealand made one change with Cole McConchie replacing Josh Clarkson.

Pakistan Playing XI: Babar Azam(c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Usman Khan, Irfan Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand Playing XI: Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi

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The opening T20I clash between Babar Azam's Pakistan and Michael Bracewell's New Zealand at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was ultimately abandoned due to persistent rainfall. Despite efforts to resume the match with a shortened format of five overs per side, only two balls could be bowled before the weather intervened again. Shaheen Afridi managed to dismiss debutant Tim Robinson for a duck off those two deliveries, but that was as far as the game progressed. Now, both teams will aim to secure a victory and take the lead in the second T20I, scheduled for April 20th at the same venue.

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Squads

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan

New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (captain), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Zac Foulkes, Tom Blundell

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