NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction 1st T20I, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Predicted Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Updates

New Zealand will clash against Pakistan NZ vs PAK  in the first match of a five-game T20I series at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, January 12. The last time these two teams faced off was in a five-match T20I series held in Pakistan in April 2023. One game in the series ended in a tie, 2-2.

While leggie Usama Mir, bowler Abbas Afridi, and keeper-batter Haseebullah Khan secured their first-ever calls-up to the T20I squad, Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain the Pakistan team for the first time in T20Is. In light of the conditions in New Zealand, the selection committee, headed by Wahab Riaz, has opted for six-pace bowling options.

Ihsanullah, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah have all been ruled out of this tour because of injuries. Three players who were involved in Pakistan’s previous bilateral series have been cut from the New Zealand T20I lineup: Faheem Ashraf, Shan Masood, and Muhammad Harris.

Matt Henry, a New Zealander who was injured and missed the 2023 World Cup, will be back for the T20I series. The series will feature Devon Conway and Captain Kane Williamson, who were rested for the Bangladesh series. To address his knee problem, which has been bothering him for a while, Williamson will miss the third Twenty20 International.

Due to injuries, Michael Bracewell and Kyle Jamieson will not be playing, although pacer Ben Sears has been available for the first two games. Notably absent from the selection process were James Neesham and Trent Boult. 34 Twenty20 International matches have been played between these two teams; Pakistan has won 20 of these while New Zealand has won 13. One meeting ended with no resolution.

NZ vs PAK