New Zealand cricket have arrived in Pakistan for the first time in 18 years.
The Kiwis squad landed at the New Islamabad International Airport on Saturday afternoon and received a warm welcome from the cricket board officials as well as fans.
A warm welcome to the @BLACKCAPS
New Zealand have reached Islamabad for their three-match ODI and five-match T20I series against Pakistan. #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/qGQuPAcURy— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 11, 2021
The team was taken to their hotel in a tight security protocol, where they will spend a three-day isolation period before resuming training. The visiting side will play three ODIs in Pindi Cricket Stadium from September 17 to 21.
Followed by ODIs, the Kiwis will also face Pakistan in a five-match T20 series with the final scheduled for October 3 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
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Not ICC Super League fixtures
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday confirmed that the upcoming ODI series between the two sides will not be part of the ICC World Cup Super League Fixture because of the non-availability of the DRS system – a new requirement.
Hence, the series will go down as a bilateral face-off between Pakistan and New Zealand.
The cricket board says that New Zealand will return to Pakistan in the 2022-23 season for two Tests and three ODIs. The two boards have agreed that these 50-over matches will now count towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification.
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New Zealand’s last tour to Pakistan was in 2003 when they visited Pakistan for an ODI series. Pakistan have thrice hosted New Zealand for ODIs in the United Arab Emirates. The Black Caps had won the 2009-10 and 2014-15 series 2-1 and 3-2, respectively, while the 018-19 series was a 1-1 draw. Pakistan, however, had won the T2o series 3-0 when they hosted New Zealand in the UAE in 2018.
