It is a strange time to be playing an international Twenty20. Winning this series of two back-to-back matches will provide only a fleeting sense of satisfaction to the players, and will serve in no way towards any build-up to a larger T20 agenda – the next World T20 is in 2016. With the ODI World Cup looming, though, it provides an opportunity to tinker with combinations and give a chance to a fringe player or two.
In all, nine players in the two squads have played in fewer than 15 limited-overs games for their national teams. For most of them, the T20s are perhaps their final chance to bring themselves into contention for the World Cup. Teams are unlikely to punt on untested talent at a World Cup, but if places do open up, it will help to have scored a blistering 70-odd in a reasonably recent T20 game.
For Pakistan, the T20s also allow them to ease a set of senior players back into international cricket after breaks of varying lengths. Umar Gul last played for Pakistan during the World T20 in April, with a recurring knee injury keeping him out for long stretches. He has played plenty of domestic cricket since then, though, including a set of four-day games, and will be eager to remind everyone that he’s still around and still a top-class bowler. The same is true of Wahab Riaz, who is fit again after suffering a knee injury during the ODIs against Australia. Opener Ahmed Shehzad, meanwhile, will be playing for the first time since suffering a minor skull fracture during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.
Kane Williamson will lead a New Zealand without regular captain Brendon McCullum, as well as new-ball regulars Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who are all resting to prepare for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Unlike Pakistan, who have named separate squads, the same set of players will play both the T20Is and ODIs for New Zealand, and therein lies the chance for someone like Anton Devcich or Adam Milne to leave a hard-to-forget impression.
Form guide
(last five completed games, most recent first)
Pakistan LLWWL
New Zealand LWLWL
In the spotlight
After being dropped from the third ODI against Australia, Umar Akmal played no part in Pakistan’s resurgence in their Test series against Australia and New Zealand. Instead, he went back to domestic cricket, and struggled for runs, failing to score a single half-century in 11 first-class innings in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. His form is a concern for Pakistan, and they will hope the sight of international opposition can spark him back to his fluent best.
Since his last appearance for New Zealand in January, Adam Milne has been repeatedly sidelined by injury. Back in the squad now, he has hinted that he’s back to his furious best with the ball during New Zealand A’s tour of the UAE, running through the tail to finish with a five-for against Ireland on Monday.
Team news
With Sohaib Maqsood injured and Umar Amin dropped, Pakistan will have to make middle-order changes to the eleven that played the one-off T20 against Australia. Mohammmad Hafeez will probably take one of the two spots, and Sarfraz Ahmed should come into the side and take the keeping gloves off Umar Akmal.
Pakistan (possible) 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Awais Zia, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Saad Nasim, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi (capt), 8 Anwar Ali/Umar Gul, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Raza Hasan, 11 Mohammad Irfan
The last time New Zealand played a T20 game was during their tour of the West Indies, where they didn’t name a separate squad and simply made do with their Test players. It’s hard to tell what combination they are likely to go with in Dubai, therefore, and it will be interesting to see if they persist with James Neesham at the top of the order.
New Zealand (possible) 1 Kane Williamson (capt), 2 James Neesham, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Corey Anderson, 6 Luke Ronchi (wk), 7 Daniel Vettori, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Kyle Mills, 10 Mitchell McClenaghan, 11 Adam Milne
Stats and trivia
The top three wicket-takers in international T20 are all from Pakistan – Saeed Ajmal (85), Umar Gul (80) and Shahid Afridi (78).
Nathan McCullum (52) is the only New Zealand bowler with more than 50 T20I wickets.
Pakistan have only won one of their last seven matches at the Dubai International Stadium.
Quotes
“Any time you represent your country is an honour and a privilege, so there’s very much focus going into these T20 games [but] I suppose there is that World Cup in the back of everyone’s mind, and one-day cricket is a priority for most teams.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson
