“New Zealand will have some difficulty” Ian Smith on the Black Caps’ Pakistan visit

• New Zealand’s next international assignment will be a two-Test tour to Pakistan.
• They will also play three ODIs in the country as part of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.
• The Tests will be held in Karachi (December 27-31) and Multan (January 4-8).

New Zealand took a vacation from international cricket after defeating India 1-0 in the ODI series. A two-Test tour to Pakistan will be their upcoming international assignment, and it will begin on December 27.

Ian Smith, a former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman, is not entirely confident that the Black Caps will perform well in Pakistan. He believes that the side, which is led by Kane Williamson, may struggle on the subcontinental pitches, especially without Trent Boult, who joined the Big Bash League (BBL) after being released from central contracts.

“New Zealand will struggle a wee bit I think. I’m not quite sure if we’ve just peaked a little bit in Test cricket, maybe we have, maybe we haven’t. But it’s going to be a lot harder without Trent Boult in the side… (I’m not sure) how we’re going to get them out. Are we going to be able to spin them out? Not sure,” Smith remarked

New Zealand will play three ODIs in Pakistan as part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League in addition to two Test matches against Pakistan as part of the World Test Championship (WTC).

The tests between Pakistan and New Zealand will take place in Multan and Karachi (December 27–31). (January 4-8). On January 11, 13, and 15, they will make a repeat trip to Karachi for the three ODIs. Following the cancellation of the scheduled 2021 trip minutes before it was set to begin in Rawalpindi, New Zealand will visit Pakistan for the first time in twenty years.

Smith thinks that despite England’s 74-run victory in the Rawalpindi Test, the Black Caps will always enter matches against Pakistan as underdogs.

“I think as always when we go to Pakistan, or where we play Pakistan wherever it seems, we’ll be underdogs. I think it’ll be very, very tough for us to win over there.”  Later in the year, New Zealand will return to Pakistan to compete in five ODIs and an equal number of T20Is. The first four T20Is will be held in Karachi (April 13, 15, 16, and 19), the fifth T20I and two ODIs will be held in Lahore (April 23, 26 and 28), and the final three ODIs will be held in Rawalpindi (May 1, 4 and 7).

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