Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023 has begun. There is terrific excitement around the series due to the quality of cricket on both sides. New Zealand is not playing with the full-strength side. The reason is the absence of main cricketers due to the Indian Premier League. Most of the cricketers are featuring in Indian Premier League. On the other hand, Pakistan has decided to go with the full-strength squad in Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023.
Babar Azam is leading the side. This series is really important due to some aspects which will be discussed in this article. For Black Caps, the series holds great significance as the matches will give them a perfect opportunity to check their bench strength. Tom Latham is leading the side.
ODI World Cup 2023: Is Pakistan Ready?
ODI World Cup 2023 is just around the corner. The teams are getting in the best shape to prepare themselves for the mega event. Furthermore, the series before the World Cups becomes a spectacular opportunity to improve the team combination. Pakistan can totally improve their combination with the help of the Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023.
There are still concerns raised over the captaincy of Babar Azam. There is no doubt that Babar Azam is one of the best players in modern-era cricket. In fact, as far as the ODI format is concerned, Babar Azam is the number one cricketer. Having such great statistics in the format, there are many expectations that revolve around him. The captaincy of Babar is a form of concern.
Pakistan has struggled under his captaincy. The side has a knack for falling in the crunch situation losing the games from the winning positions. Pakistan has lost many games from the crunch situations. The teams need to perform really well in the final overs. However, there are some positives that Pakistan can take into Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023.
The Opening Pair: Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq
The opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq is one of the most successful pairs in ODI cricket currently. Both batsmen have put some really great partnerships at the top. As far as the statistics of these players are concerned, those are fantastic too. Fakhar Zaman currently averages 46.80 in the ODI format. On the other hand, Imam-ul-Haq has a spectacular batting average of 51.07 in the format.
The story of the opening pair is almost settled ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023. Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023 is a big opportunity for Pakistan to just take a final decision. Well, the partnership between Imam and Fakhar in the first ODI could certainly help out as both batsmen batted really well in the first ODI.
The only problem with this pair is less destructiveness according to the modern-era cricket. As the sport is evolving, you need cricketers who can smash the ball all around the park from the first ball. There was a time when Australia had the opening pair of Aaron Finch and David Warner at the top. There is some kind of criticism that revolves around Imam that he plays slowly.
However, Imam has managed to turn off the wave of criticism with his amazing performance in the ODI format thus far. Amazing partnerships at the top with great strike-rate will certainly help Pakistan Cricket Board will take a decision ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023.
Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI Series 2023: The Babar Azam Masterclass
Babar Azam has become the biggest player in the Pakistan Cricket Team. The reason is the astonishing skillset of Babar Azam in ODI cricket. Due to his phenomenal performance in the ODI format, he has become the number one batsman. During ODI World Cup 2019, Babar Azam was the most successful Pakistan batsman. With another World Cup coming just around the corner, the performance of Babar Azam is really vital.
Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI 2023 series is a great opportunity for Babar Azam to score some runs. In the home series, the batsmen get the opportunity to play in the home conditions. The home venue provides a great opportunity for the batsmen to enhance their batting skillset. Babar Azam can do the same in this ODI series. New Zealand is playing with the second-string squad. Yes, there are some challenging bowlers. But Pakistan has the home advantage. A great number of runs from Babar Azam would be a huge morale booster for the Pakistan side.
Babar Azam has all the shots in his cricketing textbook to shock the opposition. From a classic cover drive to a great pull shot, Babar Azam plays strokes that are really beautiful to watch. He has a great ability to build up the innings in a way that put pressure on the opposition. New Zealand needs to be ready for the challenge in the 2023 ODI series vs Pakistan.
Are you excited to watch Babar Azam? Do you want to know the statistics of Babar Azam in 2023? Do you want to find out the batting average of Babar with his strike rate? What about knowing the top-10 batsmen in the rankings? Are you a keen follower of the game? If yes, then you could go to the best online cricket news sites in Australia to find out the information.
Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI Series 2023: The Bench Strength
Ihsanullah has shown huge potential in Pakistan Super League. He has now got a chance to represent Pakistan in the One Day Internationals. Pakistan has a big chance to test their bench strength in the Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023 ahead of the World Cup. He has many varieties to trouble the opposition batsmen. The way he bowls the blistering yorkers is astonishing. Pakistan needs some great pacers during the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Ihsanullah is a bowler who could really perform the job of a great fast bowler in India.
The Indian conditions provide great support to the spin bowlers. This is why Pakistan is given the chance to Usama Mir to test their bench strength. On his ODI debut, Usama Mir dismissed Kane Williamson in a phenomenal manner. It demonstrates the masterclass bowling display of Mir in the format. If Usama gets the chance to perform in Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023 and if he fires, Pakistan would get a fine option in the squad.
Pakistan has included Abdullah Shafique in the squad for Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023. Abdullah is a really classic batsman and builds the innings amazingly well in the ODI format. The gameplay of Abdullah really suits the ODI format. Pakistan can play Abdullah Shafique in the middle order to test their bench strength. The side certainly needs a batter in the middle order who can build the innings.
Abdullah does not only builds the innings in an amazing manner. Pakistan Super League 2023 has shown that Abdullah Shafique is a fine hitter of the cricket ball. Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023 gives the Pakistan team a great opportunity to test their bench strength.
Babar Azam as Leader: Lots of Eyes on Him
Following the defeat in the Test series vs England and the overall bad record at home under the captaincy of Babar Azam, the number-one batsman is under the radar due to his captaincy skills. Babar Azam has not been able to perform at the top-notch level as far as the captaincy is concerned. ODI World Cup 2023 is approaching. There is no side that would want to take a dramatic decision as far as the changing captain is concerned. It would be a very risky decision to opt for that approach.
There are many cricket experts who back Babar Azam due to his leadership skills. In the captaincy of Babar Azam, Pakistan reached the final of Asia Cup 2022 and T20 World Cup 2022. It is also true that Pakistan has been able to defeat India in the World Cup only under the captaincy of Babar Azam. These statistics hold great significance.
This is a great chance for Babar Azam in Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023 show his captaincy skillset. Yes, the outing was pretty tough during the T20 series. Pakistan was on the verge of victory. However, Pakistan drew the series at home against the second-string side of New Zealand.
When the stage of the mega event will arrive, the captaincy skillset needs to be at the top. This is going to be the biggest ODI competition in the life of Babar Azam. If Babar Azam lifts the upcoming trophy, he could really become a legend. This is a great chance for the best Pakistan batsman.
Fast Bowling in the Longer Formats
In modern-era cricket, the fitness of fast bowlers has been a form of concern. Due to T20 cricket, the players are used to playing the shortest format. This is why players find it difficult to settle down in the ODI format. As the ODI World Cup 2023 is approaching, Pakistan can choose to use players like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf wisely in Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023. There is no need to risk the fitness of the players ahead of the World Cup.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been facing issues due to his consistency in the format after the comeback. The problem is not the initial overs that Shaheen Afridi bowled in the ODI format. In the final overs, Afridi has been smashed all around the park on some occasions. The New Zealand batsman Mark Chapman played Shaheen Afridi really well in the final T20. Shaheen Shah Afridi needs to gear himself ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023. A great kind of performance in Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series is really vital. He needs to take some wickets.
Haris Rauf has a premium pacer for Pakistan cricket. He bowls with a blistering pace to trouble the opposition. The way he puts pressure on the opposition is phenomenal. Haris is a great fast bowler. The best thing about Haris Rauf is that he has a great track record of bowling vs New Zealand in limited-overs cricket. The fitness is Haris is also pretty vital for the Pakistan side. He needs to have a top fitness level ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023.
Naseem Shah has emerged to become the frontline pacer of the Pakistan ODI side. If he takes some important wickets for Pakistan vs New Zealand in the ODI series 2023, Pakistan is up for the treat in the fast bowling department.
Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI Series 2023: Hard-Hitting Options
Now this is the most important part. The role of the hard-hitters is the most important in limited-overs cricket. The batsmen who smash the ball all around the park in the ODI format are really vital. Pakistan has some great all-rounders in the ODI format. However, Pakistan is missing classic hard-hitters like Hardik Pandya and Glenn Maxwell on the side. Pandya and Maxwell are cricketers who can smash the ball all around the park from the first delivery. Pakistan is missing the services of cricketers who can perform the same job.
Yes, there are all-rounders on the side. Shadab has the ability to hit the ball all around the park. The game of Imad Wasim has improved significantly in recent times. We have seen that in Pakistan Super League. Iftikhar Ahmed has shown some great hard-hitting skills in the final overs in limited-overs cricket. He bats terrifically well for Pakistan.
But there is something that seems missing to chase the targets like 350 runs in the format on a consistent basis. There is no doubt that the Pakistan side can easily chase the totals like 270 to 280 runs. But reaching the score of 400 runs in the ODI format with his side could be really difficult.
Do you want to find out which team squads have the best hard-hitting options in the ODI World Cup 2023? What about finding out the list of cricketers who have a strike rate of 100+ in the format? Who are some of the best lower-order batsmen out there? Are you interested in this information? If yes, then you could go to the best online cricket sportsbook sites in the United Kingdom to find out the statistics.
Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI Series 2023: Green Team is Amazing
Despite some loopholes on the side, there is doubt that Pakistan has an amazing side. Pakistan has the services of many match winners on the side. Players like Shaddy, Babar, Imam and Babar perform spectacularly well in the format. Furthermore, Fakhar Zaman is an astonishing batsman in the ODI format.
Pakistan faced some tough times while forming its ODI team in the past years. The side was missing some great batsmen in the top order. With the presence of players like Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq in the ODI format, the Pakistan team is a really composed side.
Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023 is really important for Pakistan to form its strong side. The team needs to be in great shape ahead of the mega event. Babar Azam needs to improve his captaincy skills. Fakhar needs to score runs consistently in the ODI format. Shaheen Shah Afridi needs to take wickets in the final overs. With the combination of all these great things, Pakistan can become a side to defeat in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023.
Pakistan Should Be Prepared For The Biggest ODI World Cup 2023 Contest
Now this game is going to be the biggest game of the World Cup. The arch-rivals will be playing against each other at the home of India. Pakistan has a great opportunity to win against India in the ODI World Cup 2023. In the T20 World Cups, the streak has finally broken. Pakistan was able to defeat India in T20 World Cup 2021. As the World Cup is approaching, Pakistan needs to form a really great side which could help them build a fine team in the format.
This is why Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI series 2023 is a great opportunity for the Pakistan side to set up their squad. The loopholes need to be taken care of ahead of the mega event. The spinners need to perform well on the Indian pitches. India has the services of some really great players in the ODI format. With the players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the side, it is a really difficult side to defeat. Pakistan needs to come up with a proper plan for the ODI World Cup 2023.
