Cricket
Imamul Haq is not playing as he was ruled out with a toe injury.
NAPIER (Web Desk) – Pakistan have won the toss and decided to bowl first in the first One Day International against New Zealand in Napier on Saturday.
Fresh off their emphatic 4-1 victory in the T20I series, New Zealand carries undeniable momentum, while Pakistan, bruised by their struggles in the shorter format, looks to regroup and rediscover their rhythm in the ODIs.
Visitors Pakistan would want to ensure their white-ball game isn’t all doom and gloom, while hosts New Zealand are keen to blood-in new talent
Pakistan did not have Imamul Haq available; he was ruled out with a toe injury on the morning of the game. The official statement calls it a “soft tissue injury to his right big toe”. New Zealand, meanwhile, give debuts to Nick Kelly and Mohammad Abbas.
New Zealand: Nick Kelly, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell (capt), Muhammad Abbas, Mitch Hay (wk), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Usman Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed
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