New Zealand tour of Pakistan
The Pakistan cricket team and the New Zealand cricket team have a long history of playing against each other. The first Test match between the two teams was played in Lahore, Pakistan in 1955, which Pakistan won by an innings and 1 run. Since then, the two teams have played 60 Test matches, with Pakistan winning 25, New Zealand winning 14, and 21 ending in draws.
In One Day Internationals (ODIs), the two teams have played 107 matches, with Pakistan winning 55 and New Zealand winning 48, while three matches ended without result. In T20 Internationals (T20Is), the two teams have played 25 matches, with Pakistan winning 15and New Zealand winning 10.
Both teams have had memorable moments in their encounters, including Pakistan’s win in the 1992 Cricket World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, and New Zealand’s thrilling win in the 2016 ICC World T20 match in Mohali, India, where they chased down a target of 181 with four balls to spare.
The two teams have played each other in Pakistan and in New Zealand, as well as in other countries such as the UAE, Australia, and England. The upcoming full tour of Pakistan by the New Zealand cricket team in 2023 is expected to add more chapters to the history between the two teams.
The 10 white ball matches; 5 T20is and 5 ODIs will be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi. Pakistan squad was boosted by the return of seniors including Babr Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rouf who were rested for the previous series against Afghanistan which Pakistan lost 2-1 under the leadership of stand-in skipper Shadab Khan.
Tom Lantham will lead the New Zealand team who will be touring without Kane Williamson who was injured in an IPL match and is ruled out of cricket for at least 6 months.
With the current situation of the country, elections in two provinces due in coming months, the bank corrupt threat looming over the head, the soaring inflation, after entertaining PSL, this bilateral series remains the source of entertainment to the people of Pakistan. The pleasant whether, culture and hospitality of Pakistan were appreciated by everyone from foreign coaches to international umpires, with full strength squad of New Zealand touring Pakistan, it will benefit PCB to develop strong case to hold other international teams and holding multinational tournaments in near future like Asia cup this year and champions trophy scheduled to be held in Pakistan in 2025.
The cricket lovers of Pakistan were deprived of this entertainment after the 2007 firing incident on Sri Lankan players in Lahore, but the hard work of the Pakistan cricket board has now paid off by first hosting PSL in UAE and then full-fledged seasons in Pakistan. The next season of PSL will add more spice to the already highly rated cricket league with more superstars willing to tour Pakistan after recent success of PSL and full tours of England, Australia and New Zealand.