After losing the first games of the five-match series against New Zealand, Pakistan have made three changes to their playing XI for the third T20I.

Pakistan began their tour of New Zealand by conceding 226-8 in the first T20I, at the Eden Park in Auckland, despite Haris Rauf’s 3-38 and Abbas Afridi’s 2-43. They made only 180 in response, a significant part of which came from Babar Azam (60 in 43 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (50 in 25).

Pakistan did better in the second game, at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, where Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-46), Abbas (3-34), and Rauf (2-34) restricted New Zealand to 194-8. Despite Babar’s 35-ball 57, however, they failed to go past 173 themselves.

PAK vs NZ: What are the three changes?

Pakistan named their playing XI for the third T20I a day in advance – a practice observed by some teams for Test cricket but not as common in the shortest format.

The new XI features three changes. Captain Shaheen and Rauf will remain their main fast bowlers; the five batters – Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar, Fakhar, and Iftikhar Ahmed – have retained their places as well, as has wicketkeeper Azam Khan.

However, Pakistan will leave out the other three bowlers. While the omission of Aamer Jamal (8-0-97-1 across the two matches) and Usama Mir (8-0-90-1) come across as logical, Abbas (8-0-77-5)’s absence is down to his injury.

NZ vs PAK: Abbas Afridi injured

A PCB release confirmed that Afridi had been ruled out of the third T20I due to a low-grade abdominal wall muscle strain causing discomfort.

🚨 Pakistan's playing XI for the third T20I 🚨#NZvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/eMkUcP1l1L

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 16, 2024

The trio will be replaced by spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz; seam-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jr; and fast bowler Zaman Khan, who has a reputation of being a death bowler.

The inclusion of both Nawaz and Wasim has bolstered Pakistan’s batting line-up, who will now bat up to nine. From Pakistan’s 17-man squad, Abrar Ahmed, Sahibzada Farman, and Haseebullah Khan will be the only ones without a game after the third T20I.

The third T20I will be played at the University Oval in Dunedin on January 17, followed by the fourth and fifth matches at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on January 19 and 21.

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