NZ vs PAK, 1st T20I | Five Player Battles to Watch Out For
Pakistan will lock horns with New Zealand in Auckland (x.com)
After enduring a disappointing 3-0 defeat in the recently concluded Test series against Australia, Pakistan will be determined to shake off the disappointment and embark on a redemption journey. The Asian Giants are gearing up for a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, with the first encounter scheduled to take place on January 12 at Eden Park in Auckland.
In T20Is, Pakistan hold an edge over New Zealand with 20 victories and 13 defeats. However, on New Zealand soil, the Kiwis have managed eight wins and suffered seven defeats against Pakistan.
This series holds significant importance for Pakistan, especially with a new leadership group at the helm. Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named the captain, with Mohammad Rizwan serving as his deputy. New Zealand, known for playing their distinctive brand of cricket, has a track record of consistent success over the years.
The new series brings fresh opportunities for the players. Also, a long series like this one will see new rivalries brewing up. As we brace ourselves for the first T20I, here we look at the five player battles to watch out for.
Devon Conway vs Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi (X.com)
This battle will set the game up. With Auckland tending to assist seamers early in the powerplay with the new ball, Shaheen will like to make the most of the conditions against Devon Conway. The southpaw loves batting at home, and his record is brilliant. Conway doesn’t take a long time to settle and take on the bowling, particularly against the left-arm pacers; he’s really aggressive.
The solidity of Conway will pose a big challenge for Pakistan’s new skipper. Shaheen has been the strike bowler for the Men in Green across formats, particularly in T20Is. Notably, Shaheen hasn’t dismissed him yet in international cricket, but he did dismiss the Kiwi batter in a league game earlier last year.
Babar Azam vs Tim Southee
Babar Azam. (X.com)
Babar Azam has been experiencing a peculiar phase with the bat in the middle.mThis series becomes important because it's a format he likes. Having scored over 3000 runs in over 100 T20I games, Babar has three hundreds, which is not a mean achievement by any measure. The small boundary dimensions and fast wickets of New Zealand will suit his style of play.
This could be a big series for Babar. However, one person who could prevent him from getting big runs is Tim Southee. His track record against Babar tells a story. The right-arm paceman has dismissed Babar on two occasions. Babar’s strike rate drops to 87.1 against Southee, reflecting his struggle.
Kane Williamson vs Usama Mir
Kane Williamson with Babar (X.com)
Although he hasn't played much cricket of late, Kane Williamson is still a quality player, and he has a decent track record against Pakistan, having scored 584 runs in 19 innings against the Men in Green at an average of 36.50, striking at 116.33. He has amassed five half-centuries against them and would look to carry his form against the opposition. There’s one bowler who can and would like to stop Williamson from making his comeback memorable, and that bowler is Usama Mir.
Although both players haven’t faced each other much, in fact just once when Pakistan and New Zealand locked horns in Bengaluru last year in the 2023 World Cup, Usama managed to outfox him.
Mohammad Rizwan vs Mitchell Santner
Mohammad Rizwan is a fighter, and every time he steps on the field, he proves why he’s such a valuable asset to the Pakistan team. Having finished the Australia tour as Pakistan’s highest run-getter, Rizwan must be brimming with confidence. With the additional responsibility of vice-captaincy, Rizwan will look to set the series up with a big score in Auckland.
To stop a player like Rizwan, New Zealand will have to bring their spin ace Mitchell Santner. The left-arm spinner is a very clever operator. He’s limited with his variations, but the way he varies his speed and line and length is what has made him one of the most sought-after T20 cricketers in the world right now.
Daryl Mitchell vs Aamer Jamal
Daryl Mitchell (X.com)
Battle of two all-rounders, but both are very different from each other. While Mitchell is more of a batting all-rounder, Aamer Jamal is a bowling all-rounder. Both players have been in great form. Daryl Mitchell was sensational in the World Cup in India last year, and he continued his great form in the ongoing Super Smash tournament for his domestic team.
On the other hand, Jamal hogged the spotlight for his all-round brilliance in Australia. He was Pakistan's standout player. The right-arm seamer can seam the ball both ways and can hurry the batters by hitting the hard length. Both are fierce competitors, and this will be the first time both will be up against each other, which makes this battle even more interesting.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")
