KARACHI: Pakistan are all set to take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series starting Sunday, the country's cricket board said in a statement, with the first game to be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The Pakistan squad arrived in New Zealand on Thursday and held their first training session on Friday afternoon. Before their arrival, the T20I squad underwent a pre-series camp from March 7 to 10 in Lahore.
Pakistan’s squad includes three uncapped players — Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Ali — who earned call-ups to the national side following their impressive performances in recent domestic events.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha, who led the team to a 2-1 T20I series win in Zimbabwe in his first series as captain, expressed satisfaction with the players' performance ahead of the series.
“The team's preparations are going well, and we will try to produce better results in New Zealand," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) quoted him as saying in a statement. "We have some young players in the side, and it is an opportunity for them to showcase their talent at the international level after performing well in domestic cricket.”
Pakistan have an upper hand over New Zealand in the 44 T20I contests between the two sides, with 23 wins, while the Black Caps have secured victory in 19 fixtures.
The last T20I series featuring the two sides, played in Pakistan in 2024, ended in a 2-2 draw, with one match abandoned due to rain.
More recently, though, Pakistan's cricket squad has come under significant criticism for their performance following their early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy after losses to New Zealand and India.
During their tour to New Zealand, Pakistan will play their second match at University Oval in Dunedin on March 18, while the third match of the series will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21.
The fourth and fifth T20Is will be played at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui and Sky Stadium in Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.
A three-match ODI series will follow the T20I action and will be played from March 29 to April 5.
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Pakistan set to face New Zealand in T20I series opener in Christchurch on Sunday
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Pakistan set to face New Zealand in T20I series opener in Christchurch on Sunday
- Skipper Salman Ali Agha says the team will try to produce better results in New Zealand
- A three-match ODI series, set to follow the T20I action, will run from March 29 to April 5
LeBron James becomes the oldest player to have a triple-double in NBA history
- James had 28 points and 12 assists when he grabbed his 10th rebound with 2:06 to play in the Lakers’ 124-104 victory
- LeBron James became the oldest player in NBA history to have a triple-double, accomplishing the feat for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks
LOS ANGELES: LeBron James became the oldest player in NBA history to have a triple-double, accomplishing the feat for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks.
James had 28 points and 12 assists when he grabbed his 10th rebound with 2:06 to play in the Lakers’ 124-104 victory. James got a standing ovation when he checked out moments after grabbing his final rebound to complete his 123rd career triple-double, fifth-most in NBA history.
At 41 years and 44 days old, James broke the record held by Karl Malone, who recorded a triple-double for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old.
But the top scorer in NBA history hadn’t had a triple-double since last Feb. 1, 2025, in New York. That day is better remembered in Lakers history for the late-night breaking news of the trade that brought Luka Doncic to the Lakers in a seismic trade for Anthony Davis.
Malone had held the record as the oldest player with a triple-double since he had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 1 assists on Nov. 28, 2003, during his final NBA season. James recorded the next 15 triple-doubles on that list, and he repeatedly came close to setting the record repeatedly over the past year, but didn’t quite reach it until the Lakers’ final game before the All-Star break.
After missing Tuesday’s game against San Antonio, James was aggressive and active from the opening tip against the Mavericks in the absence of Luka Doncic. The NBA scoring leader missed his fourth straight game for the Lakers with a mild hamstring strain.
James put up 14 points and six assists in the first quarter alone, and he had 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds by halftime. He topped double digits in assists during the third quarter, and he played the entire fourth quarter before grabbing the 10th rebound.
James was selected for his 22nd All-Star appearance this weekend at Intuit Dome even though he has missed 18 games this season due to injury. That means James is ineligible for inclusion on his 22nd All-NBA team.
James entered this game averaging 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game for the Lakers, who are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race despite playing only 10 games with James, Doncic and Austin Reaves simultaneously healthy. James missed the first 14 games of the season while dealing with sciatica.
James has 152 career triple-doubles when the playoffs are included.
James had 28 points and 12 assists when he grabbed his 10th rebound with 2:06 to play in the Lakers’ 124-104 victory. James got a standing ovation when he checked out moments after grabbing his final rebound to complete his 123rd career triple-double, fifth-most in NBA history.
At 41 years and 44 days old, James broke the record held by Karl Malone, who recorded a triple-double for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old.
But the top scorer in NBA history hadn’t had a triple-double since last Feb. 1, 2025, in New York. That day is better remembered in Lakers history for the late-night breaking news of the trade that brought Luka Doncic to the Lakers in a seismic trade for Anthony Davis.
Malone had held the record as the oldest player with a triple-double since he had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 1 assists on Nov. 28, 2003, during his final NBA season. James recorded the next 15 triple-doubles on that list, and he repeatedly came close to setting the record repeatedly over the past year, but didn’t quite reach it until the Lakers’ final game before the All-Star break.
After missing Tuesday’s game against San Antonio, James was aggressive and active from the opening tip against the Mavericks in the absence of Luka Doncic. The NBA scoring leader missed his fourth straight game for the Lakers with a mild hamstring strain.
James put up 14 points and six assists in the first quarter alone, and he had 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds by halftime. He topped double digits in assists during the third quarter, and he played the entire fourth quarter before grabbing the 10th rebound.
James was selected for his 22nd All-Star appearance this weekend at Intuit Dome even though he has missed 18 games this season due to injury. That means James is ineligible for inclusion on his 22nd All-NBA team.
James entered this game averaging 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game for the Lakers, who are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race despite playing only 10 games with James, Doncic and Austin Reaves simultaneously healthy. James missed the first 14 games of the season while dealing with sciatica.
James has 152 career triple-doubles when the playoffs are included.
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