Pakistan are all geared up to take on a second string New Zealand in a five-match T20I series at home starting Thursday (April 18). The first T20I will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Babar Azam stepped down from captaincy across formats after Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals of the ICC World Cup 2023. The 1992 World Cup winners finished fifth on the points table.

Shaheen Afridi was appointed the T20I captain after Babar Azam had stepped down from the role of an all-format Pakistan skipper following the poor ODI World Cup 2023. Babar has been offered the T20I captaincy again as Shaheen is set to lose his position at the helm.

Multan Sultans qualified for their fourth consecutive final in the Pakistan Super League after beating Peshawar Zalmi in the first qualifier of the 2024 edition. Zalmi, whose batting has revolved around skipper Babar Azam, failed to live up to the expectations in a crunch game.

The ongoing edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is nearing its climax with league stage ending on March 12 (Tuesday). The top four teams have qualified for the playoffs and are set to get their hands on the trophy with a brilliant show in crunch games.

Babar Azam is leading the run charts in the ongoing season of the Pakistan Super League. The Peshawar Zalmi skipper has already amassed 498 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 148.65. His runs in the ninth season of the PSL have come at an average of 62.25.

Babar Azam needed only six runs to reach the monumental landmark and he did it while playing for Peshawar Zalmi against Karachi Kings in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). With this achievement, Babar has also gone past the likes of Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli in the shortest format.

Team India thrashed England by 434 runs in the third Test in Rajkot after the visitors were bowled out for 122 in their second innings. Babar Azam, on the other hand, became the first batter to score 3,000 PSL runs. Here are the top 10 trending news stories from the sporting world on February 19.

Babar Azam became the first player in Pakistan Super League (PSL) history to score 3,000 runs after he smashed 68 runs in his side Peshawar Zalmi's opening game against the Quetta Gladiators. The Gladiators began their campaign with a 16-run win as Zalmi failed to chase a target of 207.

"As far as my own goal is concerned, I am never satisfied because whenever I achieve something, I always focus on my next goal and make plans on how I can achieve that. That keeps me going and it never stops." Babar Azam said.

Pakistan lost to New Zealand in the fourth T20I of the five-match series and now have gone down in the series 0-4. After failing to chase in the first three matches, they got to bat first this time but they managed to post a below-par total of 158 runs and eventually lost.

New Zealand have already won the series with wins in first three matches. Pakistan have been extremely poor so far despite winning toss in all matches of the series so far. They have not been able to match the hosts in all three departments but specifically, the bowling attack has disappointed.

Pakistan might have lost the five-match series against New Zealand in the first three games itself. But Babar Azam's return to form has been the biggest positive for the visitors. He scored fifties in all matches and has levelled Kohli's world record in the shortest format. Here are more details...

Pakistan are 0-2 down in the five-match series and have a last chance to stay alive. Their bowling attack has conceded 226 and 193 runs in two matches so far but apart from Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman (in 2nd game), none of the batters have clicked on this tour yet.

NZ vs PAK: Babar Azam starred in Pakistan's 2nd T20I against New Zealand as he registered a massive milestone in International Cricket. Pakistan are facing New Zealand in a T20I series at the latter's home. The Kiwis lead the series 1-0 before the second game.

Pakistan might have lost the first T20I of the five-match series to New Zealand but their former captain Babar Azam played superbly at number three, his new batting position in T20Is. He smashed 57 runs off 35 balls at a strike-rate of more than 160 amist talk around his slow batting.

The defending champions Lahore Qalandars are facing Shadab Khan-led Islamabad United in the opening game of the Pakistan Super League 2024 while Babar Azam's Peshawar Zalmi clash with Quetta Gladiators on February 18.

In-form Daryl Mitchell and the returning captain Kane Williamson registered quickfire fifties to help New Zealand score a total of 226/8, the biggest-ever total against Pakistan in T20Is, at Auckland's Eden Park on Friday.

Pakistan will begin their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2024 as they face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series. Shaheen Afridi will be leading the Men in Green for the first time. Pakistan have named their team for the 1st T20I.

The series will be crucial for both teams keeping in mind the T20 World Cup that is set to take place later this year in the West Indies and the USA. The five-match T20I series is set to commence on January 12 even as Kane Williamson is also set to return for New Zealand.