Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 series trophy unveiled

CHRISTCHURCH: The trophy for the upcoming Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 series has been unveiled in Christchurch on Thursday.

The unveiling ceremony took place at the scenic Port Hills, with Pakistan’s Mohammad Haris and New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi representing their respective teams. 

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The eagerly awaited T20 International (T20I) series between Pakistan vs New Zealand is set to commence from March 16, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The series is particularly important for Pakistan, who is looking to bounce back after a disappointing exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy.

The Men in Green failed to secure a single victory in the group stage, whereas, the Kiwis reached the final of the tournament. They only narrowly lost to India in the finals.

The series will consist of five T20Is followed by three ODIs, providing both teams with ample opportunity to showcase their skills and make necessary adjustments ahead of future competition.

The first T20I is scheduled to start at 6:15 am local time, and fans are eager to see how the teams perform, despite two years of dismal performance by the guests.

Pakistan’s squad has undergone significant changes, with Salman Ali Agha taking over the captaincy from Mohammad Rizwan, who, along with Babar Azam, has been omitted from the T20I lineup.

The sudden shift indicates a new direction for the team, with vice-captain Shadab Khan stepping into a more prominent role, even addressing media right before the team departed for the Oceania country.

Shadab was also seen practising diligently, hitting impressive shots. Many fans expressed anger over initial announcement of Shadab’s inclusion into the squad, with several pointing out his lack of experience and gameplay in recent years, even in domestic cricket.

On the other hand, the Kiwis announced two squads for the T20I series, with Michael Bracewell leading the team. The first three matches will feature a mix of seasoned players and emerging talents, including Daryl Mitchell, Jacob Duffy and Michael Bracewell himself.

Bracewell’s leadership will be vital, especially with several key players unavailable due to their commitments in the Indian Premiere League (IPL), which will begin shortly after the T20I series.