New Zealand to play 13 White Ball Matches in Pakistan | Schedule Announced:
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday announced the schedule of the New Zealand men’s cricket team’s dual tours of Pakistan. The Kiwis will play two Tests as part of their ICC World Test Championship title defence and three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League fixtures from December 27 to January 15, preceding returning for five T20Is and five ODIs from April 13 to May 7.
On the first leg of the Pakistan visit, Kane Williamson’s side will play Tests in Karachi (December 27-31) and Multan (January 4-8). They will get back to Karachi for the three ICC Super League matches on January 11, 13 and 15.
The Karachi Test will be New Zealand’s first in the metropolitan city since October 1990. It keeps on being a paramount year for Multan as well. After hosting three ODIs against the West Indies in May, they will stage the second Test among Pakistan and England (December 9-13), preceding holding the second Test among Pakistan and New Zealand.
New Zealand will start the second leg of the Pakistan visit in Karachi with four T20Is (April 13,15,16 and 19), followed by the fifth T20I and two ODIs in Lahore (April 23,26 and 28) and the last three One Day Internationals will be played in Rawalpindi (May 1,4 and 7).
Zakir Khan, PCB Director – International Cricket, in an official media release, said: “We had guaranteed our enthusiastic fans that we will deliver high-quality home International cricket in 2022. Today’s announcement of New Zealand’s twofold visit to Pakistan is part of that commitment .”
The first leg of the visit for two Tests and three ODIs is a part of the Future Tours Programme, while the 10 white-ball matches in April/May are to compensate for the abandoned September 2021 visit.
New Zealand is as of now eighth in the ICC World Test Championship, while Pakistan is sitting in the fifth spot. In the ICC Super League, a qualifying competition for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan and New Zealand are fourth and 6th, respectively.
