By New Zealand to Tour Pakistan for Five T20Is in April
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that New Zealand will tour Pakistan for a series of five T20 Internationals from April 18 to 27. This will be New Zealand’s third visit to Pakistan in 17 months.
The first three T20Is will be held in Rawalpindi on April 18, 20, and 21, while Lahore will host the last two matches on April 25 and 27. The New Zealand team is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on April 14.
However, the series overlaps with the Indian Premier League (IPL), which may impact the availability of New Zealand players. Last year, when New Zealand played five T20Is and as many ODIs in Pakistan from April 14 to May 7, most New Zealand players involved in the IPL were unavailable.
Players such as Kane Williamson (Gujarat Titans), Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, and Devon Conway (recovering from thumb surgery) are with IPL teams. Glenn Phillips (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Trent Boult (Rajasthan Royals), and Lockie Ferguson (Royal Challengers Bangalore) are also part of the IPL.
Usman Wahla, PCB’s director of international cricket, expressed excitement about the tour, highlighting the strong ties between the two cricketing nations. He hoped for a competitive series, which is crucial for both teams as they prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup later this year.
