PAK vs NZ 5th T20I: Babar Azam brings back Shaheen Afridi; New Zealand make three big changes after winning toss; check playing XIs

Michael Bracewell's New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first against Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team in the fifth and final T20I of the five-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, on April 27 (Saturday). The visitors are currently leading the series 2-1 and have the chance to win this series. On the other hand, Men in Green can only tie this series and they are playing this series in an attempt to avoid a home-series loss against second-string BlackCaps side. Shaheen Afridi is making his return after missing the previous game. On the other hand, Kiwis have also made three changes with Tim Seifert, Cole McConchie, and Zakary Foulkes coming to the line-up.

Head-to-Head

Both teams have faced each other in 43 matches. Pakistan have won 22 of them and New Zealand have been victorious on 19 occasions. Meanwhile, two of them ended with no result.

Captains at Toss

“We going to have a bowl, it turned a little bit last night, in the first innings it was slow, it came better with the dew. We just want to learn and grow on this tour and try and put up a good show. Three changes for us,” said Bracwell after winning the toss.

“We would have batted first, the pitch is good and we want to put runs on the board. We are looking for 180-190 as par score, we want to start well in the first six overs and finish well. We have to step up in the middle overs as well. Only one change – Zaman is not playing, Shaheen Shah is playing. We are looking to do something different in every game, trying out different combinations and see where we stand,” said Babar.

PAK vs NZ Playing XIs

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam(c), Usman Khan(w), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir

New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Tom Blundell(w), Mark Chapman, Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell(c), Josh Clarkson, Zakary Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears, William ORourke