So it happened, the twelfth straight loss for Pakistan against New Zealand. There was a lot of drama that occurred in the last game. From Ross Taylor complaining about Hafeez’s action to Boult’s hat-trick, but everything somehow favored New Zealand to a swift win after a disappointing clean sweep in the T20s. It seems like the series is going to be a roller coaster ride as Pakistan has never been a team to fall back quietly. The will try to retaliate, and we hope it is all the spirit of the game. Both the teams had to face their demons in the first game which will make them think their plan for world cup once again. Let us take a look at the probable playing 11 for now.
Head-to-Head:
Overall Matches – 110
Pakistan- 53
New Zealand- 54
Tied- 1
No Result- 2
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The ground is getting harder to chase on. Five out of six matches played here has been won by the team batting first. Every team wants to save themselves by the scorching afternoon, so they prefer to defend. This game might not be any different. The ground will be dry with no sign of a cloud or rain.
| Total Matches | 44 |
| Matches won batting first | 29 |
| Matches won bowling first | 15 |
| Average 1st Inns scores | 248 |
| Average 2nd Inns scores | 207 |
| Highest total recorded | 313/9 (50 Ov) by PAK vs SL |
| Lowest total recorded | 63/10 (18.3 Ov) by AFG vs SCO |
| Highest score chased | 295/6 (49.5 Ov) by PAK vs WI |
| Lowest score defended | 180/3 (20 Ov) by UAE vs PNG |
Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st ODI Ballebaazi Fantasy Cricket Preview
Pakistan
Pakistan might have cracked the formula to win the T20s, but they are far behind in achieving the same feat in ODIs. They have lost nine out of sixteen games they have played this year. They are also facing the same issue of middle order, but it is hurting them more as Fakhar is not performing for some time now. Babar is the only one carrying the burden of scoring for the team in top order, and the lower order doesn’t have the explosive batsmen they used to have once. Bowling is decent and with spinners and pacers both doing their job everything falls on to the batsmen to take the team to the other side. All
eyes would be on Fakhar as it is high time that he performs or he will have to be dropped.
New Zealand
Although they won the last game, all thanks to the havoc created by Boult’s hat-trick, they cannot hide behind it. They will have to face the truth that they don’t have the variety on the bowling as Sodhi is the only spin option and the batting is not satisfactory as well apart from Munro who has been consistent. The team can rely on Williamson and Taylor to help them out of tight spots, but they do need contribution from everyone else also. George Worker might be dropped following his continuous failures. This might give Latham a chance to open and show his skills against pacers as well. They might not make any other change to keep the momentum they might have gained from the first match going.
| Pakistan | New Zealand |
| Imam-ul-Haq | Colin Munro |
| Fakhar Zaman | Tom Latham |
| Babar Azam | Kane Williamson (c) |
| Shoaib Malik | Colin de Grandhomme |
| Mohammad Hafeez | Ross Taylor |
| Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk) | Henry Nicholls |
| Faheem Ashraf | BJ Watling |
| Imad Wasim | Trent Boult |
| Shadab Khan | Lockie Ferguson |
| Hasan Ali | Ajaz Patel |
| Junaid Khan | Tim Southee |
Pakistan vs NewZealand 2nd ODI Ballebaazi Fantasy Cricket Preview
