PAK vs NZ: Pakistan’s likely lineup for fifth New Zealand T20I

Pakistan will host New Zealand in the final T20I of the five-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday where they would aim to end it on a positive note.

Having lost in their previous two matches, there is no room for error as despite having a full-strength squad, Babar Azam’s men trail the five-match series by 2-1 against a relatively inexperienced New Zealand team.

The hopes of clinching the series are gone, Pakistan, at best, can draw it by winning the last match and this is what the Green Shirts will have in mind when they will take the field on Saturday.

While there’s still hope of levelling the series with a win on Saturday, the Men in Green would play their best playing XI as it would be essential to not end up on the losing side with T20 World Cup 2024 around the corner.

Pakistan’s likely playing XI for fifth New Zealand T20I

Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir

Remember, in the fourth T20I, Babar Azam’s side came close to chasing the target down but fell four runs short as all-rounder Imad Wasim couldn’t take his side over the line in the last over.

After being put into bat first by Pakistan captain Babar Azam, the visitors posted 178/7 while Pakistan finished on 174/8 in the chase.

O’Rourke was the pick of the bowlers for the Black Caps, picking three wickets for 27 runs while Ben Sears took two for the same number of runs.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series schedule

April 18 — 1st T20I, Rawalpindi: Match called off due to rain

April 20 — 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi: Pakistan won by seven wickets

April 21 — 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi: New Zealand won by seven wickets

April 25 — 4th T20I, Lahore: New Zealand won by four runs

April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore

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