The Pakistani and New Zealand cricket teams participated in a practice session at the National Stadium on Monday, ahead of their upcoming five-match ODI series.
The first three matches are scheduled to take place in Karachi on May 3, 5, and 7, respectively. The teams arrived at the stadium amidst tight security protocols and were escorted from their hotels.
Once the players arrived, both the teams began with their practice sessions before moving on to more cricket-specific drills. The Pakistani players paid special attention to their bowling, batting, and fielding skills, with Shaheen Shah Afridi bowling lightly due to concerns over a possible injury. Haris Rauf focused on improving his bowling, while Shadab Khan practised his spin balls to improve his grip.
The Pakistani team emphasised on improving their fielding skills. As the session drew to a close, both teams appeared to be in high spirits and eager to begin the ODI series.
During the practice session, Pakistan team’s captain Babar Azam and head coach Grant Bradburn inspected the pitch. The pitch is expected to be supportive of spinners, which could benefit Pakistan’s bowlers. The New Zealand cricket team’s consultant, Saqlain Mushtaq, provided tips to the visiting team’s players.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2023.
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