Pakistan will play three Twenty20 matches followed by a Test and One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand over the next seven weeks in a final build-up to the World Cup.
But they are without Test captain Salman Butt and fast-bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who have been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and are under investigation over spot-fixing allegations.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has also banned its players from social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, to maintain discipline and eliminate avenues of possible controversies.
Team manager Intikhab Alam said the players on the tour had been made aware of the high standards expected of them.
“Everybody’s been briefed and they are clear what is expected of them. We cannot afford any more unfortunate incidents,” said Alam. “They understand what the country expects from them, what the board expects from them.”
Pakistan arrived on the back of drawing two Tests and narrowly losing the ODI series 3-2 against South Africa while New Zealand are in one of their worst-ever slumps, having lost their last 11 ODIs – four against Bangladesh and five against India.
“South Africa are probably one of the best at the moment, so it was a morale booster after all that we went through,” said coach Waqar Younis.
Younis said that given New Zealand’s recent record, Pakistan supporters would expect the side to do well.
“This is an opportunity for us but we don’t really want to forget that New Zealand are a fine side when they play at home. We’ve got to make sure we do the basics right.”
Pakistan play the first of the three Twenty20 matches against New Zealand in Auckland on December 26 before playing two Tests and six ODIs.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2010.
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