The National Stadium in Karachi will host the historic three-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand, with the first match to take place tomorrow (Monday).
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The series will witness the Kiwis play an ODI series on Pakistan soil for the first time since December 2003, when the hosts had whitewashed them 0-5.
Babar Azam will lead the 16-member squad, which includes three uncapped players in batter Tayyab Tahir, leg spinner Usama Mir, and allrounder Kamran Ghulam. The management has also recalled the Southpaw batters in Shan Masood and Haris Sohail back in the ODI set-up.
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Having faced aplenty criticisms after not managing to win a single Test match last year at home, Babar will be keen to prove his mettle as a leader in this imminent series, with eyes also on the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup this year as well.
As for the Kiwis, Kane Williamson will be back as captain in the series. Uncapped allrounder Henry Shipley makes it to the 15-member ODI squad.
PAK vs NZ 1st ODI pitch report
The National Stadium in Karachi will host its first ODI tomorrow since October 2019. As was the case during the two recently concluded Test matches between these two sides, expect the batters to have a field day during the first ODI tomorrow as well.
The average score across the 48 ODIs so far at this venue stands at 264.5 runs, with totals in excess of 300 achieved a total of 14 times by the teams.
The spinners are likely to come into play as the match progresses, as it the case with a majority of the tracks in Pakistan. The fast bowlers are likely to come in handy with the new ball, although not much seam movement is expected off the pitch.
Five matches each have been won by teams batting first and second in the previous ten completed ODIs at this venue. Hence, it remains to be seen what the captain winning the Toss opt for in tomorrow’s day-night fixture.
