Predict the outcome of the New Zealand versus Pakistan T20I series

[The Viper]

The T20I series starts on December 18th.

Last time these two teams played a T20I series in New Zealand, Pakistan won 2-1.

Can Pakistan replicate that success this time?

 

[UzmanBeast]

I think that New Zealand is in good form at the moment, but it all depends on whether or not the Pakistan team can get adequate match practice before the series commences.

I still back Pakistan to win on the basis of a slightly better lower order. Powerplay bowling from Pakistan must be good to contain the likes of Guptill, the new guy, and the other explosiveness that New Zealand possesses up top.

I think in these conditions, Pakistan would be better off playing one more solid batsman than they normall do, perhaps someone like Danish Aziz or Amad Butt to replace one of the all-rounders playing. Management needs to decide on who to play from Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed, as the final team should not have too many spinners on tracks that are not even conducive to spin.

Final XI should Look Something Like This -

Babar Azam (c)
Haider Ali
Mohammad Rizwan/Sarfaraz Ahmed
Mohammad Hafeez
Khushdil Shah
Danish Aziz
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Wahab Riaz
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Haris Rauf

Should have taken Zeeshan Ashraf to keep as it would have opened up a slot in the middle order for another all-rounder or a pure power hitter.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

2-1 to NZ.

 

[saeed5646]

2-1 to newzealand

 

[Saj]

I fear this tour will be a tough one with them losing both series, although they'll put up a better show in the T20Is.

2-1 to NZ

 

[shamaan]

I think that New Zealand is in good form at the moment, but it all depends on whether or not the Pakistan team can get adequate match practice before the series commences.

I still back Pakistan to win on the basis of a slightly better lower order. Powerplay bowling from Pakistan must be good to contain the likes of Guptill, the new guy, and the other explosiveness that New Zealand possesses up top.

I think in these conditions, Pakistan would be better off playing one more solid batsman than they normall do, perhaps someone like Danish Aziz or Amad Butt to replace one of the all-rounders playing. Management needs to decide on who to play from Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed, as the final team should not have too many spinners on tracks that are not even conducive to spin.

Final XI should Look Something Like This -

Babar Azam (c)
Haider Ali
Mohammad Rizwan/Sarfaraz Ahmed
Mohammad Hafeez
Khushdil Shah
Danish Aziz
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Wahab Riaz
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Haris Rauf

Should have taken Zeeshan Ashraf to keep as it would have opened up a slot in the middle order for another all-rounder or a pure power hitter.

I fought haider ali is vice captain for the shaheens if thats the case wont he be playing in the sheheens 4 day game (second one) and the numrous t20s for the shaheens ?

 

[shamaan]

2-1 pakistan but they must get 180+ batting first or keep new Zealand under 170

 

[tyron_woodley]

2 - 1 pakistan. bowling in t20 is better than n.z

 

[Ab Fan]

New Zealand 3-0

 

[Thunderbolt14]

2-1 Pakistan.

 

[choudhary6964]

2-1 New Zealand.I hope they win atleast one match.But with chacha iftikhar khushdil hack Imad mediocre Wasim and Shadab useless in the side it will be difficult to win one match.

 

[Smudger]

2-1 to Pak

 

[Hyperion66]

Nz 3-0

 

[shaaik]

2-1 or 3-0 Pakistan ..

 

[Mesozoic]

3-0 to Pak.

 

[The lone Ranger]

would have been 5-0 to Pakistan easily!
But unfortunately it's only a 3 match series! so

3-0 to Pak

 

[Hasan123]

I don't think New Zealand are a great T20 side but at home they are very strong. I think they will edge it 2-1.

 

[UzmanBeast]

I fought haider ali is vice captain for the shaheens if thats the case wont he be playing in the sheheens 4 day game (second one) and the numrous t20s for the shaheens ?

I'm not sure about that, but it might be a possibility. That would be my ideal team, assuming that everyone is available to play.

 

[KoyoAli]

Pakistan 2-1 if not better. Our t20 team despite recent failures is strong enough to compete and beat NZ at home. Hopefully, if we don't collapse with the bat, we should take the series.

 

[shamaan]

I'm not sure about that, but it might be a possibility. That would be my ideal team, assuming that everyone is available to play.

The below was on twitter from Saj PakPassion: but the below could have changed as now its only 1 4 day game

Rohail Nazir will be Shaheens’ captain and Haider Ali the vice-captain against New Zealand A. The schedule of Shaheens tour of New Zealand is yet to be announced but reports state it will be 2 four-day games & 6 T20s

 

[BunnyRabbit]

2-1 new zealand. or probably 3-0

Don't see us scoring 200 plus, babar's captaincy is way too soft to restrict run flow from nz. Don't see Pak negotiating well with Ferguson Would love to be proven wrong.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

England beat NZ in NZ and India whitewashed NZ in NZ earlier this year. Pakistan drew with England earlier and are a much better team than India. Anything less than a 3-0 and Pakisran should be disappointed.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Pakistan 2-1 if not better. Our t20 team despite recent failures is strong enough to compete and beat NZ at home. Hopefully, if we don't collapse with the bat, we should take the series.

Squad selection is the biggest factor for Pakistan. If Misbah can pick a good starting XI, we have all the components to rattle New Zealand at home. The problem is that squad selections are made without the use of brain cells, suggesting why Pakistan has had a few shocking series (AUS, SL).

 

[KoyoAli]

Squad selection is the biggest factor for Pakistan. If Misbah can pick a good starting XI, we have all the components to rattle New Zealand at home. The problem is that squad selections are made without the use of brain cells, suggesting why Pakistan has had a few shocking series (AUS, SL).

True, especially with Playing XIs. Even when we have selected decent squads we somehow play the worst XI from the said squad. So hopefully we don't mess it up this time as well.

 

[Rana]

3-0 nz

 

[UzmanBeast]

3-0 nz

Whoever wins the first match sets the tempo, in my opinion. The squad will be much different this time, so I wouldn't rule Pakistan off yet. Never know when someone like Iftikhar Bhai will score maiden T20 Century.

 

[UzmanBeast]

True, especially with Playing XIs. Even when we have selected decent squads we somehow play the worst XI from the said squad. So hopefully we don't mess it up this time as well.

Squad selections are Pakistan's eternal nemesis, we just don't have competent selectors.

I know that in India, they have some "selection committee" rather than one person who selects the team. Why not use such a system in Pakistan? Seems to be working fine for India.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Squad selections are Pakistan's eternal nemesis, we just don't have competent selectors.

I know that in India, they have some "selection committee" rather than one person who selects the team. Why not use such a system in Pakistan? Seems to be working fine for India.

No it's not. All our selectors have their favourites. Makes it harder.

Have one target person but I feel sorry for the person who is the selector. Lol he must be getting a lot of death threats. Poor guy.

 

[Rana]

If we win 2 T20i and one Test, I will give my close friends a treat at Novikov or Nobu in london.

Also I will do Bhangra like Daler Mehndi on this forum and become Mamoon’s worst nightmare

 

[UzmanBeast]

No it's not. All our selectors have their favourites. Makes it harder.

Have one target person but I feel sorry for the person who is the selector. Lol he must be getting a lot of death threats. Poor guy.

Could be debated either way, because that one person decided to keep players like Azhar, Shafiq in the team regardless of a mountain of failures. With more people involved, favouritism would be reduced, and merit selections would be made.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Could be debated either way, because that one person decided to keep players like Azhar, Shafiq in the team regardless of a mountain of failures. With more people involved, favouritism would be reduced, and merit selections would be made.

Maybe, but it also opens up more controversy as board members would have their own personal favourite. Cricket is an elitist sport in Asia. Board members get some nice backroom cash from rich kids' parents in exchange for an opportunity to represent the country.

Hopefully things change for both India and Pakistan when it comes to selection. Too many deserving players rot on the sidelines.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Maybe, but it also opens up more controversy as board members would have their own personal favourite. Cricket is an elitist sport in Asia. Board members get some nice backroom cash from rich kids' parents in exchange for an opportunity to represent the country.

Hopefully things change for both India and Pakistan when it comes to selection. Too many deserving players rot on the sidelines.

India is far ahead of Pakistan in terms of making competent selections, there is no comparison.

They are a team that is strong enough to experiment in do-or-die situations. We have yet to reach such a stature, which is why most of our selectors live with a primitive "turtle-shell" mindset.

 

[shamaan]

India is far ahead of Pakistan in terms of making competent selections, there is no comparison.

They are a team that is strong enough to experiment in do-or-die situations. We have yet to reach such a stature, which is why most of our selectors live with a primitive "turtle-shell" mindset.

Totally agree Pakistan always seems to play players that shouldnt be playing

 

[BreadPakoda]

NZ has been weak in T20Is. They are ranked #6 for a reason. Going by how England and India destroyed them in T20Is recently, pressure is on Pakistan to win the series 2-1 if not 3-0.

If Hafeez and Wahab click, 3-0 could be possible.

 

[tyron_woodley]

India is far ahead of Pakistan in terms of making competent selections, there is no comparison.

They are a team that is strong enough to experiment in do-or-die situations. We have yet to reach such a stature, which is why most of our selectors live with a primitive "turtle-shell" mindset.

True in a way but India also carries some excess baggage in the team because they are affiliated with some top officials. However under ganguly I hope things are fixed. Ganguly is a bad **** and he won't tolerate this networking connection quota.

 

[Rayyman]

Khushdil Shah might go crazy here on these short boundaries

 

[waleed88]

I don't see us winning any game with that batting lineup and Wahab Riaz playing. Regardless of what people say about Wahab, he leaks runs and is completely brainless when someone has a measure of him. It is by no coincidence he features in the list of bowlers who conceded the most runs atleast a couple of times.

 

[sweep_shot]

It should be competitive. Pakistan are generally always great at T20 format.

I think NZ may win 2-1 but Pakistan can win also.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Kinda ironic OP asking the members to predict something about the most unpredictable team.

Those who are participating in the poll, give it a careful thought before answering and then select the total opposite of what you think will be the outcome - and you might get it right.

 

[sharmaji]

2-1 Pakistan win.

Babar, Hafeez, Haider Ali will be too much for the Kiwi bowlers who will definitely rest some of their frontline bowlers for the test series.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I :: snip ::

I think NZ may win 2-1 but Pakistan can win also.

Dude, what kinda prediction is that? lol

 

[sweep_shot]

Dude, what kinda prediction is that? lol

Truth be told, it is 50-50. So, my answer wasn't very decisive.

I voted for 2-1 NZ because NZ are the home team.

 

[TrentDevil]

3-0 to Pakistan

 

[waleed88]

It should be competitive. Pakistan are generally always great at T20 format.

I think NZ may win 2-1 but Pakistan can win also.

That was in the days of mystery spinners. The 2016 T20 series between NZ and Pakistan ended up being 2-1 with Afridi as captain. Imad, Afridi and Amir were kind of a surprise package. The first game boys did really well, but in the next 2 games Guptill absolutely destroyed us.

This team feels worse than that team minus Babar.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Totally agree Pakistan always seems to play players that shouldnt be playing

People play on the basis of knowing someone on the team. Whilst Kohli has a clear favouritism for RCB players, they are often dropped if they cannot perform. In Pakistan, these "excess baggages" are given years to prove to us how we wasted our time investing in them.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

3-0 victory for New Zealand.

 

[PakPremi]

New Zealand have advantage atm as they getting good international exposure and Pak mental torture and no practise. Even then Pak selecting right players leaving out Fahim and Iftikhar, would win 2-1.

 

[King_Kohli]

2-1 to newzealand

 

[Ab Fan]

New Zealand 3-0

Correction, Pakistan 3-0.

 

[hassan918]

I will go with New Zealand winning it 2-1

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Correction, Pakistan 3-0.

Both possibilities on the cards

 

[Panchujeev]

2-1 Pakistan

 

[MenInG]

All depends on the mental state of the players but am guessing a 2-1 win for Pakistan is very likely

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan's best chance is to win the 1st T20I as NZ will be without some key members of their side

BLACKCAPS T20 SQUAD GAME 1
Mitchell Santner (c)
Todd Astle
Doug Bracewell
Mark Chapman
Devon Conway
Jacob Duffy
Martin Guptill
Scott Kuggeleijn
Jimmy Neesham
Glenn Phillips
Tim Seifert (wk)
Ish Sodhi
Blair Tickner



Because for the next 2 games....

BLACKCAPS T20 SQUAD GAMES 2 & 3
Kane Williamson (c)
Todd Astle
Trent Boult
Devon Conway
Martin Guptill
Kyle Jamieson
Scott Kuggeleijn
Daryl Mitchell
Jimmy Neesham
Glenn Phillips
Tim Seifert (wk)
Ish Sodhi
Tim Southee

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Pakistan 3- nil. We have seen during the world cup what Pakistan did to Kiwis.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Smash them boys. Decimate the kiwis. 2-1 Pakistan.

 

[HydratedTurnip]

Quite difficult to predict. T20 is easily the strongest format for Pakistan and the weakest for NZ. But with NZ coming off with such a high against WI and playing at home while Pakistan not getting much practice, they will likely start stronger in the first t20. I'll be backing 2-1 Pakistan with NZ winning the first t20.

 

[HydratedTurnip]

Oh I hadn't read about Babar's injury. With him out, it's gonna be 2-1 NZ

 

[Thunderbolt14]

With Babar and Shadab likely out, and even Imam unavailable to replace, here are my predictions:

If Pakistan win the first match, we’ll win 2-1 Pakistan.

If we lose the first match, I suspect 3-0 New Zealand.

 

[King_Kohli]

No Ross Taylor
No Lockie Ferguson
No Colin de Grandhomme
No Williamson & Boult for first match.

NZ playing a weakened team in the first T20I.

OTOH, Pakistan missing Babar.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Hafeez 3.0 will win 1 match on his own
Bowlers will win one match for Pakistan

2-1 to Pakistan

 

[Mueez]

2-1 Pakistan!

 

[Thunderbolt14]

No Ross Taylor
No Lockie Ferguson
No Colin de Grandhomme
No Williamson & Boult for first match.

NZ playing a weakened team in the first T20I.

OTOH, Pakistan missing Babar.

***Pakistan missing Babar, Fakhar, Shadab and replacing an out of form Amir with Rauf/Hasnain

 

[King_Kohli]

***Pakistan missing Babar, Fakhar, Shadab and replacing an out of form Amir with Rauf/Hasnain

Will he get chances in all T20's?

 

[Mesozoic]

***Pakistan missing Babar,Fakhar, Shadab and replacing an out of form Amir with Rauf/Hasnain

Posters here were asking for Fakhar to be booted out when he wasn't buying a run against Zimbabwe at home. Now suddenly he's "missed". Shadab is a big miss though..... for New Zealand.

 

[watson367]

Last time my boy shezzy gave Pakistan flying starts, he will be missed.

 

[watson367]

2-1 NZ, Hafeez will save us from a whitewash.

 

[shamaan]

Posters here were asking for Fakhar to be booted out when he wasn't buying a run against Zimbabwe at home. Now suddenly he's "missed". Shadab is a big miss though..... for New Zealand.

Fakhar wont be missed as for shadab hes a massive loss if he doesnt play the teams now are evely balanced so expect anything

 

[shamaan]

I hope haider and Abdullah can win the series for us it will be a massive boost in confidence for all the players

 

[BunnyRabbit]

3-0 for NZ.
We have no one to keep up with the pace of NZ pitches and fields especially for t20is.
If Shadab is also not fit to play, then give captaincy to Imad.

 

[shaaik]

2-1 or 3-0 Pakistan ..

Babar’s absence wd make it really tough for Pakistan now. New Zealand clear favs now

 

[Saj]

I think this could now be a 3-0 to New Zealand.

 

[aloo paratha]

I still think we have a chance at winning the series. Both teams are missing key players.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Last time babar was failed in a t20 series and we get whitewashed

 

[King_Kohli]

Last time babar was failed in a t20 series and we get whitewashed

In last New Zealand tour:

In T20's - 41,50,18
In ODI's - 0,10,8,3,10

He failed in ODI's not in T20's.

 

[King_Kohli]

Last time babar was failed in a t20 series and we get whitewashed

Got it.
You talking about SL tour.

 

[Amjid Javed]

3-0 NZ - kiwis are in good form and our squad is full of TFF or newbies which will be exposed.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

In last New Zealand tour:

In T20's - 41,50,18
In ODI's - 0,10,8,3,10

He failed in ODI's not in T20's.

Aginst srilanka at on backyard

 

[shariqnoor]

I believe NZ could whitewash both WI and Pakistan this summer.

 

[naseem]

All depends on Saheen now...but in such batting paradise....Pak don't have the batting 2 challenge the
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