LAHORE – Pakistan have a superior record in T20 cricket but that will be tested when they come face to face against New Zealand in the first T20 game in conditions much different than at home. The greenshirts gave a poor batting display in their practice T20 game but the intensity will definitely pick up once the serious business starts today.
Pakistan are expected to open the innings with skipper Shahid Afridi which can be a good move as a brisk start by Afridi at the top can ease the pressure on the coming batsmen and peg back the opposition.
Eden Park Auckland is a smallish ground and with a quick outfield there can be quite a few fours and sixes in the offing. Pakistan team need to show positive intent and they can do well.
In bowling Shoaib Akhtar and Saeed Ajmal will hold the key as Shoaib can test the opposition with his speed while Ajmal has quite a few variations to tease the Kiwis.
While Pakistanis had a close fought last outing against South Africa the Black Caps are coming into the series after 11 straight ODI losses including their first series loss against Bangladesh.
Regular captain Daniel Vettori is being rested for the T20s while Brendon McCullum is also out with a bad back. Thus Ross Taylor will take over the captaincy who himself isn’t in good form.
So it will be a different sort of a New Zealand team, one which will have quite a few new faces but nothing can be taken for granted in this form of cricket as one good innings or one good spell can change the complexion of the game. Despite an alien pitch in the offering, Pakistan will start as slight favourites for the game given their good T20 record but New Zealanders will be playing at home and shouldn’t be taken lightly given the home conditions and partisan ‘Boxing Day’ crowd expected at Eden Park.
Players to look out for: Mohammad Hafeez is a nifty cricketer and is in good form with the bat scoring well against South Africa recently. He is also pretty tight with his off spinners making him the ideal package for T20 cricket. Hafeez’s contribution with bat and ball will be of vital importance for Pakistan in today’s game.
Ross Taylor might not be in very good form but he is a solid batsman on his day with his unique ability of clearing the field with ease against any bowler. He is especially strong on the leg side and Pakistan will have to be wary of Taylor today.
Head to head & Conditions: The pitch at Eden Park Auckland is expected to have true bounce and with short boundaries the ball is expected to fly off the bat at good pace. There is a chance of rain in Auckland today however if the weather remains good we are in for a good game of cricket with a full house expected on Boxing Day. For Pakistan a good win will be the exact tonic which they will need for the rest of the tour.
Expected line-ups: Pakistan: Hafeez, Afridi, Shahzad, Younis, U Akmal, Alam, A Razzaq, Gul, Shoaib, Wahab, Ajmal.
New Zealand: Ryder, Brownlie, Guptill, Taylor, Franklin, N McCullum, Styris, McGlashan, Mills, Butler, Southee.
