KARACHI, Dec 25 (FD): A trophy for the two-match Test series between Pakistan and New Zealand was unveiled on Sunday at the National Stadium Karachi.
Photos shared by the PCB on Twitter show Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and his New Zealand counterparty Tim Southee can be seen posing with the trophy.
Addressing a press conference, Babar Azam revealed that the squad for the first test would be finalised after holding consultation with new chief selector Shahid Afridi.
Responding to a question, he said the team would try to make a comeback in New Zealand series after it faced whitewash in Test series against England.
A day earlier, the PCB and New Zealand Cricket mutually agreed to shift the second Test from Multan to Karachi due to deteriorating weather conditions, which have already disrupted flight operations and may also potentially result in the loss of playing hours.
It has also been agreed between the two boards that the second Test and the three ODIs will now be brought forward by a day, which means the second Test will commence on 2 January. The first Test will start on Dec 26 while the three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League fixtures to be played on 9, 11 and 13 January.
Revised itinerary:
26-30 December – 1st Test, Karachi
2-6 January – 2nd Test, Karachi
9 January – 1st ODI, Karachi
11 January – 2nd ODI, Karachi
13 January – 3rd ODI, Karachi.
Test squad
Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood
