Pakistan are aiming to tick all the right boxes in their preparation phase ahead of the T20 World Cup in June as they gear up for the five-match series under captain Babar Azam against an understrength New Zealand.

The New Zealanders will be led by Michael Bracewell.

Rawalpindi will host the first three T20Is from Thursday. The remaining two games will be staged in Lahore on April 25 and 27 as both squads build up to the T20 showpiece which will be staged in the Caribbean and the United States in June.

Babar replaces Shaheen Shah Afridi, under whose captaincy, Pakistan had lost 1-4 to the Black Caps earlier this year. Babar had led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2021 in the UAE, where they lost to eventual champions Australia, and also captained the side that was beaten by England in Melbourne in the 2022 edition.

Pacer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim have come out of retirement to give Pakistan plenty of selection options after fast bowler Haris Rauf was ruled out due to a shoulder injury, while left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz was dropped.

Selectors rewarded several performers from the Pakistan Super League, including uncapped Usman Khan and Irfan Khan. “We have a very balanced side and covered all the aspects of the game in this squad,” said Azhar Mahmood, head coach for this series.

AP/PTI