Two teams who squared off in one of the Champions Trophy semi finals are due to face each other again, this time in the United Arab Emirates.
The BLACKCAPS take on Pakistan in a three ODI, two Twenty20 series before Pakistan graces the shores of New Zealand in late November.
ODI head-to-head
Played: 79
Pakistan won: 47
BLACKCAPS won: 30
Draw: 1
No Result: 1
It’s not the first time the BLACKCAPS have played Pakistan on mutual soil in UAE. The two teams have squared off 10 times previously, with Pakistan victors on every occasion.
Recent form
BLACKCAPS: W.W.W.W.W.
Pakistan: L.L.L.L.L.
The last time the two teams squared off was in the Champions Trophy semi final in a thrilling match. Facing a strong BLACKCAPS bowling attack, Pakistan were restricted to 233/9 with Grant Elliott and Daniel Vettori guiding the BLACKCAPS to victory with 13 balls to spare.
Pakistan has something to prove in the UAE series. The team has lost five games in a row to the BLACKCAPS, so it will be interesting to see how Pakistan copes with a BLACKCAPS team determined to keep their winning streak on a role.
ICC ODI Rankings
BLACKCAPS: Fourth (110 points)
Pakistan: Fifth (109 points)
Pakistan and New Zealand head into the one-day series separated by a solitary point in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship. One victory by Pakistan and New Zealand loses its top four placing. If the BLACKCAPS win all three matches in Abu Dhabi the team will extend its lead by 11 points.
Schedule
3/11/2009 Pakistan vs BLACKCAPS - Abu Dhabi
6/11/2009 Pakistan vs BLACKCAPS - Abu Dhabi
9/11/2009 Pakistan vs BLACKCAPS - Abu Dhabi
12/11/2009 Pakistan vs BLACKCAPS - Dubai
13/11/2009 Pakistan vs BLACKCAPS - Dubai
Pakistan will be in New Zealand between the 18th of November and 15th of December.
Squads
This series will see the introduction to new face BJ Watling to the international scene for the BLACKCAPS. It will also see the return of Scott Styris and Aaron Redmond.
BLACKCAPS: Daniel Vettori (captain), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Aaron Redmond, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling.
Pakistan: Younis Khan (captain), Abdul Razzaq, Iftikhar Anjum, Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Yousuf, Naved-ul-Hasan, Saeed Ajmal, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Shoiab Malik, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz.
