The Black Caps, who bat first every time they played, won the first three games handily, and now they’re aiming for a perfect five-match series sweep.
At Hagley Oval, Captain Mitch Santner stated that he wished to “change it up” by bowling first. Devon Conway, the opening batter for New Zealand, was excluded after he tested positive for Covid-19.
Tim Seifert moves up one spot to open, and Will Young, who will bat at number three, takes his place.
Legspinner Ish Sodhi is replaced by pace bowler Adam Milne in the second change.
The only alteration made by Pakistan is the replacement of Azam Khan with middle-order batsman Sahibzada Farhan. In Azam’s absence, Mohammad Rizwan will don the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
Groups:
New Zealand: Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, and Mitchell Santner (captain).
Pakistan: Muhammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi (capt), Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Nawaz.
