After a humiliating 3-0 defeat against England at home, Pakistan is currently hosting New Zealand for a two-match Test series. The first of the two matches is currently underway at the National Stadium in Karachi.
The match has seen some changes in the Playing XI of the Pakistani team since the Test against England. The most noticeable change has been the inclusion of Sarfaraz Ahmed in place of Mohammad Rizwan. The veteran cricketer’s return thrilled the fans, who also applauded the team for benching Rizwan, who had a poor performance in the game’s longest format.
After winning the toss, the hosts decided to bat first. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s return to the team was announced by Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam. The 35-year-old’s last red-ball match was in 2019 and he hasn’t played since November 2021 for Pakistan.
After Ramiz Raja’s expulsion, the selection committee changed, and Rizwan is no longer playing after receiving criticism for his underwhelming performance in the just-concluded home whitewash against Ben Stokes’ England. The supporters applauded the decision to bench the underwhelming cricketer because they thought it was about time Sarfaraz made his way back to the national team.
Mir Hamza also makes his Test return, playing his first Test since 2018. Since the surface in Karachi is anticipated to turn big from the first day, Pakistan decided to go with three spinning options and welcome Nauman Ali into the starting eleven.
The hosts will need a strong performance against the visiting Kiwis, who haven’t played a red-ball match since losing an away series to England in June. The visitors, led by veteran pacer Tim Southee, have also chosen three spinning options, including Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel, and Michael Bracewell, for a spin-friendly track in Karachi.
The team led by Babar Azam would want to make a strong statement in this series after their last one against England. However, facing the black caps in the longest format can never be easy.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Sarfaraz Ahmed’s return
Saifi is Back After 3 Years ???#SarfarazAhmed #TestCricket #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/w979NBt8po
— ? ? ? ? ? (@Aadii_1727) December 26, 2022
Dekho toh kone aaya hai
"Sarfaraz Ahmed "
Thank you selector
M – Run- Avg- sr
49- 2657- 36.4 – 71.0#pakvsnz #SarfarazAhmed#TestCricket #BabarAzam? pic.twitter.com/towWyFy3P3— Tanveer Akhter (@takhter775) December 26, 2022
Sarfaraz Ahmed is back in the side for Pakistan#cricket #pakistan #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/09gAmsVXKZ
— Cricket Addictor (@AddictorCricket) December 26, 2022
So Safie bhai is going to play his 50th Test match ???pic.twitter.com/8IjmhAL2e5#nzvspak#SarfarazAhmed
— Ä????Å (@Adityam72049066) December 26, 2022
Former Pakistan Sarfaraz Ahmed has made a comeback to the team after four years. He last played in 2019 against South Africa which he took 10 catches and scored a half-century. #PakvsNZ #SarfarazAhmed #Karachi #Trending #rapidpakistan pic.twitter.com/nCGhr7G6N2
— Rapid Pakistan (@RapidPakistan) December 26, 2022
On a lighter note : I wish #SarfarazAhmed to score some runs (100) in this match regardless the result of the test match! ?#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/U4bd46qtof
— Anns Zaffar Baloch? (@ANNSZaffarKhan) December 26, 2022
Sarfaraz Ahmed returns as Pakistan bat in first Test against New Zealand https://t.co/fMlbiB2UWm pic.twitter.com/piZvBb94kA
— 24 News HD (@24NewsHD) December 26, 2022
Ok Sarfaraz Ahmed is a good option but for Rizwan it is not a good one#PAKvNZ #TayyariKiwiHai
— munib_ul_haq (@Munibulhaq10) December 26, 2022
AlHamDuLilah ???
Finally, #SarfarazAhmed is in the eleven, best of luck boy,
Also Mir Hamza, he get the chance#PAKvNZ https://t.co/Sum2Ud7sPx— Haiderium ?? (@Haideri_Tweets) December 26, 2022
Shahid Afridi's first team selection sees the inclusion of the two players he had been backing the most: Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mir Hamza. #PAKvNZ
— faizi (@s57007270) December 26, 2022
