NZ head coach vows to compete with Pakistan

Glenn Pocknall, the New Zealand interim head coach, vowed on Tuesday, how the visitors will be coming hard at Pakistan during the forthcoming One-day Inter national series in Rawal pindi, despite the three matches not being part of the World Cup Super League the qualification process for the 50over mega event in 2023.

The status of those fixtures were changed to a standalone bilateral affair after it emerged that hosts Pakistan Cricket Board and the series broadcasters failed to hire an ICCapproved provider for the mandatory Decision Review System (DRS).

Pocknall - standing in for the regular Black Caps team boss Gary Stead maintained his charges will be as competitive as possible when the first ball is delivered on Friday at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, just a few days after they were involved in a T20 series in Bangladesh, which the hosts won 3-2. "I think the intensity will still be there. After all, we're still two international cricket teams who are very keen to win.

Pakistan haven't had a New Zealand side for 18 years playing here, so that they'll also want to win at home," Pocknall stated during a virtual news conference from Islamabad. "And likewise, we've come here to compete with them and are here to put our best foot forward. But look, it's not easy. This is not an ICC qualifying series as such, but it's certainly not going to dampen the level of intensity.

"I think international cricketers, always want to win the games for their country. So I think the passion, the intensity, the commitment, all those things will be evident on Friday. I promise you …."The 43-year-old Wellingtonian was pleased with the way New Zealand's training session panned out on Monday evening.