Ahead of the World Cup in only a few weeks, Pakistan will play a five-match Twenty20 series led by Babar Azam against an undermatched New Zealand.
It was feared that there might be a divide amongst the players when Azam unexpectedly took over the captaincy last month, ending Shaheen Shah Afridi’s brief reign.
The hosts anticipate that bonding will have occurred as a result of their time together at a military installation fitness camp.
Azhar Mahmood, the team’s head coach, said on Tuesday that the T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies in June is top of mind.
“I have full faith in the selected squad and the morale is very high in the team, so we will overcome all the shortcomings so that we can do our best in the World Cup,” he told the Reuters news agency.
“You cannot take any team lightly in the T20 format and if New Zealand is missing their key players then there is an opportunity for their young players.”
Pakistan had huge upheaval after being eliminated in the first round of the one-day World Cup last year.
In all three forms, Azam resigned as captain, while Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and head coach Mickey Arthur also left.
Batsman Azam was allowed to return after Mohsin Naqvi, the nation’s interior minister, assumed the position of head of the board and restructured the selection committee.
In this series, all-around spinner Imad Wasim and fast bowler Mohammad Amir make their comebacks to the Indian cricket team.
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohmmad Amir, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (captain), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Zac Foulkes, Tom Blundell
