Gulf News

Pakistan skipper keen to keep up the tempo against New Zealand

Malek to return for opener after meeting newborn son

- BY N.D. PRASHANT Staff Reporter

Has Pakistan mastered the art of playing T20 cricket? Well that’s debatable. But certainly, Sarfraz Ahmad and his boys know a trick or two about playing in this format and that has given them an edge over the rest in world cricket.

They have repeatedly proved that their No. 1 T20 ranking is no fluke with 10 successive T20 series win under their belt.

After putting the Australian­s to the sword and completely outclassin­g them in the threematch T20 series, Pakistan have another opportunit­y to enhance their reputation further when they meet New Zealand at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium today. The action in the first of the three-match series starts at 8pm.

Skipper Sarfraz said that his side’s major strength has been the influx of youth in the squad.

“The important factor behind our success is that we have new boys in the squad. So were are a young and energetic side,” said Sarfraz, adding that fielding has been another key factor that has led to the side’s domination in this format.

Simply exceptiona­l

“Our fielding in the shorter format has improved impressive­ly. Whenever our team has required a good catch or a run out, we have managed to get that. I think our fielding has been extraordin­ary in the shorter format when you compare with other teams. Clearly our fitness and fielding is better than other teams.”

Sarfraz pointed out that some of the catches taken by Shoaib Malek and the rest during the series against Australia were simply exceptiona­l.

Malek, who was in Hyderabad, India, following the birth of his son with tennis-star wife Sania Mirza, is expected to ■ be back in time for the opener.

“Congrats to Shoaib and his family for the birth of his son,” said Sarfraz. “I wish both son and mother good health. Shoaib will be joining the team tomorrow morning and will be available for the session and the match as well.”

Sarfraz rates New Zealand as a strong team and felt it was important to start off on a high.

“New Zealand are a tough side and they performed well in the T20 format,” he said. “Our aim will be to carry the momentum, which is on our side. Always the first match of the series is important. We will try to set the tone straight away so ■

that we can have a good series ahead.”

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson accepted that his side have their task cut out against Pakistan. “Obviously Pakistan are a strong side,” he said. “That’s something we know for a long time. The last time we played against them was at home in New Zealand and was a tough series. Coming over here, they are extremely strong in these conditions.

Williamson is missing the services of opener Martin Guptill but has Glenn Phillips and the hard-hitting Corey Anderson back in the squad.

“It’s a shame we don’t have Martin for this series,” said Williamson. “He obviously is a world-class player for us and a big performer but it also provides the opportunit­ies for some other guys mentioned. The guys who have come from the ‘A’ team, and that’s the nature of it. Anderson and Phillips have both had internatio­nal experience before and Ajaz Patel is new to the environmen­t but an experience­d cricketer. So it’s great that he gets an opportunit­y in the series.”

This is New Zealand’s first internatio­nal match in seven months and first T20 match in nine. “Yes, it an unusually long time between internatio­nals,” admitted Williamson. “But there is a lot of cricket being played in different competitio­ns and also the guys have had some cricket. I guess it makes the guys very excited to get back involved and a great country to come to play cricket against Pakistan, who are one of the strongest teams in the world at the moment.”

 ?? Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News ?? Pakistan Sarfraz Ahmad (right) and his New Zealand counterpar­t Kane Williamson with Jubilee Insurance Cup.
Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News Pakistan Sarfraz Ahmad (right) and his New Zealand counterpar­t Kane Williamson with Jubilee Insurance Cup.
 ?? AFP ?? Cristiano Ronaldo shoots and scores for Juventus vs Empoli.
AFP Cristiano Ronaldo shoots and scores for Juventus vs Empoli.

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