KARACHI: With a draw last week ending a losing streak for Pakistan and New Zealand, both teams will look to do better in the second and final Test in Karachi from Monday.
The tame draw ended Pakistan’s four-game losing streak at home, including their first ever 3-0 blanking by England.
New Zealand also arrived in Pakistan after a 3-0 loss to England.
Pakistani captain Babar Azam promised his side would play ‘positive and aggressive cricket’ after finishing 2022 without a home Test win.
“We have to take it session by session and day by day,” he said.
“We’re working on it. It’s not that we need to play different cricket.”
New Zealand were well positioned to win the first Test on the final day with Pakistan 77-2, needing 97 points to avoid an innings defeat.
But Saud Shakeelwho scored 55 not knocked out, and Mohammad Wasim with 43 avoided danger with a 71-run eighth wicket, eating time and overs to salvage a draw.
Pakistan declared 311-8 but a 138 goal from 15 overs in declining light was difficult for New Zealand, who finished 59-1.
“We have New Zealand to thank for the way they played and dominated,” said Azam, who finished the year as the top Tests scorer with 1,184 in nine matches.
The National Stadium ground helped the bowlers slow down as 23 of the 28 wickets in the first Test went to the spinners.
In the same place but on different ground, New Zealand will also be looking for victory after sitting out their last five Tests.
“It looks different from the first test… There’s a little more humidity,” batting coach Luke Ronchi said Sunday.
“The preparations are shorter than normal, obviously we only had a two-day delay.
“It’s going to be tough to get a result, you have to beat really well and take 20 wickets.”
Pakistan will seek to bring a pacemaker Naseem Shah or Hasan Ali, while New Zealand may consider Matt Henry in place of a spinner if they find the pitch suitable for the pace.
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood , Zahid Mahmoud
New Zealand: Tim Southee (captain), Michael Bracewell, Tom BlundellDevon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young
Referees: Alex Wharf (ENG) and Aleem Dar (PAK)
TV referee: Ahsan Raza (PAK)
Match referee: David Boon (Australia)
The tame draw ended Pakistan’s four-game losing streak at home, including their first ever 3-0 blanking by England.
New Zealand also arrived in Pakistan after a 3-0 loss to England.
Pakistani captain Babar Azam promised his side would play ‘positive and aggressive cricket’ after finishing 2022 without a home Test win.
“We have to take it session by session and day by day,” he said.
“We’re working on it. It’s not that we need to play different cricket.”
New Zealand were well positioned to win the first Test on the final day with Pakistan 77-2, needing 97 points to avoid an innings defeat.
But Saud Shakeelwho scored 55 not knocked out, and Mohammad Wasim with 43 avoided danger with a 71-run eighth wicket, eating time and overs to salvage a draw.
Pakistan declared 311-8 but a 138 goal from 15 overs in declining light was difficult for New Zealand, who finished 59-1.
“We have New Zealand to thank for the way they played and dominated,” said Azam, who finished the year as the top Tests scorer with 1,184 in nine matches.
The National Stadium ground helped the bowlers slow down as 23 of the 28 wickets in the first Test went to the spinners.
In the same place but on different ground, New Zealand will also be looking for victory after sitting out their last five Tests.
“It looks different from the first test… There’s a little more humidity,” batting coach Luke Ronchi said Sunday.
“The preparations are shorter than normal, obviously we only had a two-day delay.
“It’s going to be tough to get a result, you have to beat really well and take 20 wickets.”
Pakistan will seek to bring a pacemaker Naseem Shah or Hasan Ali, while New Zealand may consider Matt Henry in place of a spinner if they find the pitch suitable for the pace.
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood , Zahid Mahmoud
New Zealand: Tim Southee (captain), Michael Bracewell, Tom BlundellDevon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young
Referees: Alex Wharf (ENG) and Aleem Dar (PAK)
TV referee: Ahsan Raza (PAK)
Match referee: David Boon (Australia)
