Pakistan to play tri-series in New Zealand ahead of T20 WC 2022, confirms Ramiz Raja

Pakistan will join Bangladesh and the home side New Zealand in a Tri-Nation T20I series, to be played before the all-important 2022 T20 World Cup slated to start in Australia later this year. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja confirmed the same on June 25 (Saturday).

The Men in Green are expected to leave for New Zealand on October 4 and take on both Bangladesh and New Zealand to prepare for the World Cup. The Tri-Nation series will see the top two teams of the group stage matches go on and play the final match of the series. New Zealand Cricket is expected to announce the schedule soon.

I wanted my team to play a few matches more or less in Australian environments: Ramiz Raja

“After receiving confirmation dates from the touring England side that is due here in Pakistan on September 15, we have confirmed our participation in the tri-nation series to be hosted by Cricket New Zealand. I wanted my team to play a few internationals more or less amid Australian environments, ahead of the World Cup. Now the team will be having a good opportunity to test their combination and leading players’ form during the tri-nation series in New Zealand,” PCB chairman told a group of reporters.

The PCB chairman also told that he has decided to hire former Australian batter Matthew Hayden to prepare the team for the T20 World Cup. The left-handed batter is expected to join the Pakistan camp in New Zealand. Similarly, former batter Mohammad Yousaf will also accompany the team as the batting coach. Meanwhile, former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will continue his tenure as the team head coach till the completion of his contract.

“Saqlain will be there as head coach till the completion of one year. He possibly would not be in a position to continue following a one-year stint more due to his domestic engagements and priorities,” Ramiz added.