New Zealand win toss, elect to bat first in tri-nation series opener
Cricket
Rizwan will be eying his fourth consecutive ODI series win since taking over as Pakistan captain
LAHORE (Dunya News) – New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the tri-nation ODI series opener at the revamped Gaddafi Stadium.
Kiwis captain Mitchell Santner said they would try to post a good total. He said the team was prepared to prove equal to the task.
BACKGROUND
The series involving hosts Pakistan, along with New Zealand and South Africa, will be played from Feb 8 to 14 at the newly-constructed Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
Pakistan vs New Zealand will start at 2pm PST. In the single-league tournament, New Zealand will take on South Africa on Monday, Feb 10 at the same venue in the day game. The match is scheduled to begin at 9.30am.
After the second match, the action will move to Karachi, where the home side will take on South Africa at the National Bank Stadium in a day-night match on Wednesday, Feb 12. The final of the event will be played between the top two sides on Friday, Feb 14 with the first ball to be bowled at 2pm PST.
The tournament provides an opportunity to all three sides to prepare for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which is set to begin in Karachi on Feb 19 with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand.
Mohammad Rizwan will be eying his fourth consecutive ODI series win since taking over as Pakistan captain, having won bilateral ODI series against Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa last year.
Rizwan on the eve of the tri-nation series said: “We are excited to be playing again in front of our home crowd and in the newly constructed stadiums in Lahore and Karachi.
“The preparations have gone well so far with the players looking to give their best in the tournament leading up to the ICC event.”
New Zealand, who had their first training session at the LCCA Ground on Thursday evening, will look to make a winning start in the tournament. Mitchell Santner said, “We had a good training session in Lahore under lights and can’t wait to take on the home side on Saturday.
