ISLAMABAD: The New Zealand cricket team arrived in Islamabad during the wee hours on Sunday to play a five-match T20I series against Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed in a statement, as the two sides gear up to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June this year. 

New Zealand will be led by experienced all-rounder Michael Bracewell and will miss the likes of Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner, who have opted to not play in the series and instead focus on their duties in the Indian Premier League. 

“New Zealand team have arrived in Islamabad for the five-match T20I series against Pakistan,” the PCB said in a statement. “New Zealand’s 14-day tour will run from April 14-28.”

The Black Caps will play three T20Is against Pakistan on April 18, 20 and 21 in Rawalpindi before playing two matches in Lahore on April 25 and 27.

The series will provide quality practice for both teams as they gear up for the T20I World Cup in June 2024 in the USA and West Indies. 

Pakistan’s selection committee this month grabbed headlines when it named pacer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim to the squad for the New Zealand series. Both cricketers last month announced they were coming out of retirement and would be available for the World Cup. 

Pakistan also named Usman Khan in the squad, who switched allegiance from the UAE to play for his country of birth, while pacer Haris Rauf failed to make the cut due to a shoulder injury he sustained in this year’s Pakistan Super League tournament. 

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

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, and Salman Ali Agha

New Zealand squad: Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi