The New Zealand men's cricket team arrived in Islamabad on Sunday ahead of their five-match T20I series against Pakistan which will kick off on April 18. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, The Kiwis and the Men in Green will look to fine-tune their squad and assess the players who could feature in the 15-player squad for the marquee event. With the majority of players involved in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, New Zealand have named experienced all-rounder Michael Bracewell as the skipper of the tour. Michael Bracewell To Captain As New Zealand Name Squad for Pakistan T20Is; Tim Robinson Gets Maiden Call-Up.

Bracewell has not played an international match since March last year and has only recently returned to domestic duties following injury concerns that have included a ruptured Achilles and a broken finger. While Pakistan will be led by Babar Azam who was recently reinstated as the skipper of the white ball format in place of Shaheen Afridi. Pakistan Cricket took to X, to announce the arrival of the New Zealand team,

New Zealand Team Arrives in Pakistan 

Star pacer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim who reversed their retirements have made sensational comebacks in cricket after being named in Pakistan's squad. For the five-match series, former fast bowler Azhar Mahmood has been named as the head coach. New Zealand Call Tom Blundell, Zak Foulkes for Five-Match T20I Series Against Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Wahab Riaz has been named senior team manager, with Mohammad Yousuf as batting coach. Saeed Ajmal, who was the bowling coach on the last tours of Australia and New Zealand, will continue as the spin bowling coach. Pakistan would be looking to take revenge for their 4-1 T20I series defeat away from home against the Blackcaps earlier this year.

Squads of both teams for the five-match T20I series

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

New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Zack Fowlkes, Jimmy Neesham, Will O'Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

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