Pakistan’s head coach, Aaqib Javed, is optimistic about his team’s chances in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting Friday.
Speaking before the first match in Napier, Javed emphasized the importance of fast bowling in New Zealand’s conditions and backed his batters. He acknowledged Pakistan’s struggles in the Champions Trophy but believes the seaming pitches in New Zealand will give his team an edge.
“The conditions here resemble those in Australia and South Africa, where our pacers excelled. We must restrict them under 200 runs,” he said. Javed expressed confidence in Pakistan’s batting strength, highlighting the presence of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who are returning to ODIs.
The decision to retain Haris Rauf for the ODI series was crucial, given his impressive performances in Australia and South Africa recently. “Even though we lost in T20Is, Haris demonstrated why he is our best option in these conditions,” Aaqib Javed explained in his statement.
Aaqib Javed defended Pakistan’s ODI setup, stating that the team remains settled despite concerns following their performance in the Champions Trophy. “We have kept senior batters Babar, Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, and Imam-ul-Haq for stability while T20 changes are ongoing,” he said.
Looking ahead, Javed remains hopeful about Pakistan’s white-ball cricket, with both the Asia Cup and World Cup approaching soon.”We faced challenges on flat tracks, but our squad suits different conditions. Youngsters will improve further after PSL experience,” he added.
The first ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand will begin at 11 AM local time in Napier, corresponding to 3 AM Pakistan time.
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