Pakistan vs New Zealand: Hosts name unchanged squad for three-match T20I series; Kiwis call up 30-year-old Ajaz Patel

Lahore: Pakistan’s selectors Monday kept the same winning combination against New Zealand for the three-match Twenty20 series which whitewashed Australia in United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan beat Australia by 33 runs in the third Twenty20 international on Sunday to clinch the series 3-0 — their first whitewash against Australia in a limited over series — prompting selectors not to make any changes.

Pakistan face New Zealand in the three-match series with the first in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, followed by the last two in Dubai on Friday and Sunday.

No change means experienced pace spearheads Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz continued to be left out, while fast bowler Rumman Raees is still not fit after suffering a knee injury.

Meanwhile, New Zealand have added second specialist spinner to their Twenty20 squad, with left-armer Ajaz Patel drafted in from New Zealand A side.

New Zealand’s new coach said Patel was on form and would offer the necessary balance to the side considering the conditions in the UAE.

“It’s no secret that spin is crucial in this part of the world and with the wickets on the slower side, we’ve taken the option of a second spinner to bring our squad up to 14-players,” said Stead.

Pakistan Squad: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Tallat, Sarfraz Ahmed ( c ), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shanwari, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Waqas Maqsood, Faheem Ashraf

New Zealand Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Mark Chapman, Colin de Grandhomme, Corey Anderson, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Glenn Phillips, Ajaz Patel