Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bowl first in the fourth T20I against New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Thursday.
The toss took place at 7:00 PM (PST) in Lahore where both the skippers, Babar and his counterpart Michael Bracewell, were present.
Pakistan made a few changes from the third T20I playing XI that lost to the Black Caps. The Green Shirts were handed major injury blows as key players Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Irfan Khan Niazi were ruled out of the series with injuries.
Imad Wasim replaced the injured Irfan Niazi while Fakhar Zaman came in place of Rizwan. Meanwhile, Mohammad Amir, who sat on the bench in third T20I, and Zaman Khan are included in the playing XI while Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah are rested. Usama Mir replaced Abrar Ahmed as well.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan.
New Zealand: TA Blundell (wk), TB Robinson, D Foxcroft, MS Chapman, JDS Neesham, Michael Bracewell (c), JA Clarkson, Ish Sodhi, JA Duffy, BV Sears, W O'Rourke.
Remember, New Zealand made a stunning comeback in the five-match T20I series courtesy of Mark Chapman who led the visitors to victory by seven wickets in the third match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on April 21.
The series is now level at 1-1 with two matches remaining in Lahore. The matches are scheduled on April 25 and 27 at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The series is being broadcast live on Pakistan’s first sports channel Geo Super.
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
April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore
