(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Pakistan New Zealand to play two back-to-back Twenty20 matches in Dubai Kane Williamson and Shahid Afridi with Haier CEO Javed Afridi during the unveiling of the trophy. — KT photo by Shihab
Dubai — The traditional cricket whites the red cherry and daylight will give way to coloured uniforms a white ball and the iconic Ring of Fire of the magnificent Dubai International Cricket Stadium as the Pakistan team led by the maverick Shahid Afridi lock horns with New Zealand in first of the two-match T20I series on Thursday.
After the depressing sight of empty stands that greeted the two teams in the recently concluded Test series big crowds are expected for the back-to-back T20 games in Dubai on Thursday and Friday. While everything points to a weekend of cricketing carnival in this fascinating city Haier — the main sponsors of the Pakistan-New Zealand series — graciously dedicated the T20I trophy to Phil Hughes on the same day this great game bid a tearful goodbye to the Aussie who had lost his life playing the game he loved on November 27.
It was indeed a commendable gesture from the sponsors as the cricketing world has yet to come to terms with such a tragic loss.
Kane Williamson who is leading the Kiwis in the T20 series admits the incredible void his team still feels. “Our thoughts are with people closest to Phill. I think the initial shock was obviously evident. The pain is still quite fresh. Naturally the grieving process moves forward and with time comes that little bit of healing” said the immensely talented player whose manners are as refined as his batting.
“At the same time though we are looking forward to the cricket coming up” added Williamson whose team would definitely draw inspiration from their stunning innings-victory in the third Test in Sharjah that helped them achieve a memorable 1-1 draw in the three-Test series against a formidable Pakistan team.
While the Kiwis would be missing Tim Southee and Trent Boult so impressive with the new ball in the Test series Pakistan have been given a boost by the return from injuries of seasoned fast bowler Umar Gul and the talented left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz.
The bowling departments of both sides look different from the ones they had in the Test series but the onus would very much be on the batsmen from both sides as this is a format designed to benefit them even more than the one-dayers. Even then you could never write off the spinners on a Dubai wicket. Captain Afridi (78 wickets in T20Is) and the talented 22-year-old left-arm spinner Raza Hasan would certainly try to weave their magic against a New Zealand team that bat deep.
The Kiwis however would miss their regular skipper Brendon McCullum — given rest after his stunning match-winning double century in the third match of the Test series — at the top order as his lethal combination of fast hands and fabulous timing could put any bowling attack to the sword.
But what makes New Zealand such a good team is that they could still count on a class player like Ross Taylor and their all-rounders always provide them those extra options in a format that heartlessly discourages the specialists.
For Pakistan another encouraging news is the return of their aggressive opener Ahmed Shehzad who suffered a skull fracture during the first Test against the Kiwis in Abu Dhabi. Shehzad’s form was very impressive before the injury and Pakistan certainly need players like him Mohammad Hafeez Umar Akmal Sarfraz Ahmed and Afridi to be on top of their game in a stadium where they have managed to win only one of their last seven games.
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