LAHORE: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand during the first T20 International clash of the 5-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday.
Pakistan has selected a strong squad for the series, with the stylish batter Babar Azam back in charge of the side after being rested for the recent T20I series against Afghanistan.
Sensational batters back in Paki squad
The squad also welcomes back main players Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Haris Rauf.
Shaheen Afridi will play his first international since injuring his knee in the last World Cup final.
Former New Zealand all-rounder Grant Bradburn has taken the slot of head coach for the ten matches from Abdur Rehman.
On the Kiwi side, eight players are missing because of the Indian Premier League, and captain Kane Williamson has a knee injury, leaving the captaincy to batter Tom Latham and providing opportunities for fresh talent.
Both teams will also meet in 5 one-day internationals after the T20 series.
Pakistan:
Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
New Zealand:
Tom Latham (wk/c), Chad Bowes, Will Young, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister
