The two World Test Championship (WTC) matches between Pakistan and New Zealand will get underway on Monday in Karachi. Earlier on Saturday, it was announced that the second Test has been shifted from Multan to Karachi because of weather concerns. The entire series now – two Tests and three ODIs – will take place in Karachi.
Pakistan head into the two-Test leg after facing a 3-0 defeat against England, which extended their winless run in home Tests to six. On the other hand, New Zealand are playing a Test series with only a few wins this year. After winning the World Test Championship in 2021, the Black Caps have won just two of their last nine Tests. Under new Test captain Tim Southee, New Zealand will look to change their fortunes in the Asian sub-continent, where they have had a tough time in the recent past.
New Zealand last played a Test match in Pakistan back in 2002.
PAK vs NZ, Test series’ fixtures:
- First Test: December 26-30, National Stadium, Karachi at 10:00 am local/10:30 am IST/ 05:00 am GMT
- Second Test: January 2-6, National Stadium, Karachi at 10:00 am local/10:30 am IST/ 05:00 am GMT
Squads:
Pakistan – Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Zahid Mehmood, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mir Hamza, Sajid Khan.
New Zealand – Tim Southee (c), Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
Broadcast and live Streaming details:
- Pakistan – PTV Sports; ASports
- New Zealand – Sky Sport
- Australia – Fox Sports
- India – Sony Sports 5; Sony LIV
- United Kingdom – Sky Sports
- North America – Williow TV