The national cricket team that had left for New Zealand on Wednesday to play a five-match T-20 International (T20I) series and three one-day internationals (ODIs) finally arrived in Christchurch on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The team will take a rest today and will attend a practice session tomorrow at 1:00 PM (New Zealand time).
The first T20 International (T20I) of a five-match series between Pakistan and Kiwis will be played on March 16.
Earlier, team Pakistan left Dubai for New Zealand after making a stopover there.
On Wednesday, Pakistan cricket team whose extremely poor performance at the ICC Champions Trophy was subjected to a lot of criticism, left for New Zealand via Dubai.
The team members posed for a photograph prior to their departure from a hotel to the airport.
The first T-20 between the two sides will be played on March 16 at Christchurch.
On Tuesday, New Zealand announced its 15-member squad for the series against Pakistan.
The players are: Michael Bracewell (captain), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (matches 4-5), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry (matches 4-5), Kyle Jamieson (matches 1-3), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke (matches 1-3), Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi.
Michael Bracewell will serve as New Zealand’s captain as regular skipper Mitchel Santner will not be available, while Kane Williamson was not considered for selection after making himself unavailable.
Ish Sodhi, Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Seifert have also been recalled.
“Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke have been included for the first three games of the series only,” New Zealand Cricket said.
On March 4, Pakistan cricket head coach Aqib Javed had announced the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour.
Wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan will lead the ODI side while all-rounder Salman Agha will serve as his deputy.
Opening batter Abullah Shafique made a comeback to the ODI format alongside Mohammad Wasim Jr. who last played in the ODI World Cup 2023.
The ODI squad also includes Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Irfan Khan Niazi, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Mohammad Ali, Sufyan Muqim and Naseem Shah.
All-rounder Salman Agha has been appointed captain of the T20I side while Shadab Khan returned as the vice-captain of the team.
T-20 vice-captain Shadab Khan says happy to be back to side
On the other hand, Shadab Khan, who has been selected as vice-captain of the T-20 squad for the New Zealand tour, has said that he is grateful to the Almighty Allah that he has made a comeback to the team, and is hopeful that he will deliver in his new role.
“There is a lot of young talent in our team,” Shadab has said, adding, “Getting an opportunity to represent one’s country is a matter of honour for any young player.”
He has said he is quite optimistic that the inclusion of young players will produce the desired results.
Reporter: Ijaz Wasim Bakhri