New Zealand are back in Pakistan to play international cricket 15 months after suddenly abandoning the tour last year. With no match played between the two teams in 2021, Black Caps still haven’t played a match in this country since 2003.
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A historic two-Test and three-ODI tour for New Zealand will also commence a new era for them particularly in Test cricket. With Kane Williamson stepping down as captain last week, Tim Southee has been named his successor. Southee, who has led New Zealand in 23 white-ball matches, will be captaining them for the first time in this format tomorrow.
Coming on the back of losing four home Tests in a row in addition to major overhaul at PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board), Pakistan aren’t the most confident of sides at the moment. In what is likely to be salt on Pakistan’s wounds, they have only won one (over four years ago) out of their last five Tests against the Kiwis. The two teams will be facing each other in a Test for the first time in almost a couple of years.
The final training session before the first Test 🏏
Giving it all 💯#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/rCw9PNc1k4
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 25, 2022
Karachi, which will be hosting three Tests and as many ODIs within a month, has generally been a happy hunting ground for the hosts. Readers must note that Pakistan have won 23 and lost just three out of their 45 Tests at the National Stadium. New Zealand, meanwhile, have both lost and drawn three Karachi Tests and will be playing one after a 32-year long gap.
PAK vs NZ head to head in Test cricket
Total number of matches played: 60
Matches won by PAK: 25
Matches won by NZ: 14
Matches played at National Stadium: 3 (PAK 3, NZ 0)
Matches played in Pakistan: 21 (PAK 13, NZ 2)
PAK average run rate against NZ: 2.83
NZ average run rate against PAK: 2.72
Most runs for PAK: 409 (Babar Azam)
Most runs for NZ: 1,242 (Kane Williamson)
Most wickets for PAK: 13 (Hasan Ali)
Most wickets for NZ: 37 (Tim Southee)
Most catches for PAK: 23 (Sarfaraz Ahmed)
Most catches for NZ: 9 (Tom Latham)
NOTE: Only players part of current squads have been considered above (most runs, wickets and catches).
![Cricketers Who Played First Test Match As Captain [FULL LIST]](https://cdn-wp.thesportsrush.com/2024/01/201ef095-first-test-match-as-captain.jpg?format=auto&w=384&q=75)
