Pakistan Elects to Bowl First in Must-Win Third T20 Against New Zealand
Auckland, Friday: Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first in the third Twenty20 International (T20I) against New Zealand at Eden Park, as they seek to stay alive in the five-match series. New Zealand currently leads the series 2-0 after securing victories in the first two matches.
Team Changes:
- New Zealand: The hosts made one change to their playing XI, bringing in pace bowler Kyle Jamieson in place of Zac Foulkes. Jamieson played a key role in New Zealand’s nine-wicket win in the opening match, claiming three wickets.
- Pakistan: The visiting side made two changes, introducing debutant Abbas Afridi and legspinner Abrar Ahmed in place of seamers Jahandad Khan and Mohammad Ali.
Playing XIs:
- New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell (capt), Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears.
- Pakistan: Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Match Officials:
- On-field Umpires: Sam Nogajski (AUS), Shaun Haig (NZL)
- TV Umpire: Chris Brown (NZL)
- Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
With New Zealand aiming to seal the series and Pakistan fighting to keep their chances alive, the match is set to be a crucial contest in the five-match series.
