RAWALPINDI: Left-armers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Amir shared five wickets to rock New Zealand for a paltry 90 before Mohammad Rizwan anchored the chase to help Pakistan win the second Twenty20 clash Saturday in Rawalpindi.
Shaheen led the attack with 3-13 while Amir, returning to international cricket after nearly four years, finished with 2-13 as the visitors were bowled out in 18.1 overs after being sent in to bat.
Rizwan finished with 45 not out off 34 balls with a six and four boundaries to ensure Pakistan chased down a modest target in 12.1 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The first match, also in Rawalpindi, was washed out after just two deliveries on Thursday.
New Zealand did fight back with wickets of Saim Ayub (four), Babar Azam (14) and debutant Usman Khan (seven) but Muhammad Irfan Khan (run-a-ball 18) partnered Rizwan in an unfinished 36-run stand to seal victory.
Ayub hit a boundary off the first ball of the innings before giving a return catch to pacer Ben Lister off the next while Azam was stumped off rival skipper Michael Bracewell and Usman bowled by spinner Ish Sodhi.
Earlier Amir -- returning to international cricket after nearly four years -- jolted New Zealand in the opening overs.
Amir retired abruptly in 2020 after he was dropped from the team, the second break in his career after he was banned for five years in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010.
Spinners Abrar Ahmed (2-15) and Shadab Khan (2-15) doubled the pressure as New Zealand were dismissed for their second lowest total against Pakistan in the game's shortest format.
Mark Chapman (19), Cole McConchie (15), Dean Foxcroft (13) and Tim Seifert (13) were the only batsmen to reach double figures.
Chapman hit three boundaries in his 16-ball knock.
New Zealand's lowest T20I total against Pakistan is 80, made at Christchurch in 2010.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah, also playing his first match since injuring his shoulder in September last year, took 1-27 in four overs.
Both teams are preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in June in the United States and the West Indies.
New Zealand are missing a host of their top players due to playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League, unavailability and injuries.
The remaining matches are in Rawalpindi on Sunday followed by the last two in Lahore on April 25 and 27.
Pakistan trounce depleted New Zealand in second T20
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Pakistan trounce depleted New Zealand in second T20
- Shaheen led the attack with 3-13 while Amir, returning to international cricket after nearly four years, finished with 2-13
- Rizwan finished with 45 not out with a six and four boundaries to ensure Pakistan chased down a modest target in 12.1 overs
Iraq’s hopes of qualifying for first World Cup finals in 40 years under threat amid regional conflict
- National team head coach Graham Arnold unable to leave the UAE as a result of airspace closures arising from US-Israeli war against Iran
- With many embassies across the region closed as a result of the conflict, players and support staff fear they will be unable to obtain visas they need to travel abroad for games
BEIRUT: Iraq’s hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years are threatened by the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Iran responded to airstrikes by the US and Israel, which began on Saturday, by launching missiles and drones at a number of Gulf nations, many of which subsequently closed their airspace. Graham Arnold, the head coach of the Iraqi national team, is currently unable to leave the UAE because of this.
In addition, with many countries closing their embassies across the region as a result of the conflict, players and support staff fear they will not be able to obtain the visas they need to travel abroad to play.
Iraq are due to play Bolivia or Suriname in the Mexican city of Monterrey on Mar. 31 in a playoff for one of the remaining qualification places for the World Cup, which will be hosted this summer by the US, Mexico and Canada.
In a message posted on social media platform X, the Iraqi team management said discussions with FIFA continue over arrangements for the playoff given recent security developments in the Middle East.
“FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation are fully aware of every development regarding our team’s situation,” it said. “Because of airspace closures, our head coach, Arnold, is unable to leave the UAE.
“In addition, several embassies remain closed at the present time, preventing several professional players, technical and medical staff members from obtaining entry visas to Mexico.
“We assure our loyal supporters that we remain in close contact with both FIFA and the AFC, who are keeping tabs on the situation.”
If Iraq manage to qualify, they would join France, Senegal and Norway in Group I when the competition kicks off in June.
