The eagerly awaited first match of the five-game T20 series between Pakistan and New Zealand, scheduled for April 18 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, had to be called off due to persistent rain. The weather conditions in Rawalpindi were unfavorable throughout the day, leaving the ground wet and unsuitable for play.
New Zealand’s captain, Michael Bracewell, won the toss earlier in the day and opted to bat first, anticipating a competitive start to the series. Both teams were gearing up for the match, with players going through their warm-up routines and strategies before the rain set in.
Despite the excitement and anticipation surrounding the series, the unpredictable weather had the final say, forcing the match officials to cancel the game in the interest of player safety and the integrity of the game. The cancellation was disappointing for both teams and fans who were looking forward to witnessing some thrilling cricket action between these two competitive sides.
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, this series is crucial for both teams to fine-tune their preparations and combinations. The cancellation of the first match due to rain means that both teams will have to wait a bit longer to test their skills and strategies against each other in a match scenario.
The focus now shifts to the remaining matches of the series, with both teams hoping for better weather conditions in the upcoming games. Cricket fans around the world will be eagerly waiting for the rain to clear and for the action to resume, as Pakistan and New Zealand look to showcase their talent and compete fiercely in the remaining matches of the series.
Pakistan Playing 11 :
- Babar Azam (c)
- Saim Ayub
- Mohammad Rizwan (w)
- Usman Khan
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Irfan Khan
- Shadab Khan
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Mohammad Amir
- Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand Playing 11 :
- Tim Seifert (w)
- Tim Robinson
- Dean Foxcroft
- Mark Chapman
- James Neesham
- Michael Bracewell (c)
- Josh Clarkson
- Ish Sodhi
- Jacob Duffy
- Ben Sears
- Ben Lister
