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.

Babar Azam has played 98 T20I innings for Pakistan, out of which, 77 times he has opened the innings. He has scored the bulk of all his T20I runs at the top for the 2009 T20 World Cup winners.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) updated the rankings on Tuesday, January 9. With two Test series - India vs South Africa and Australia vs Pakistan - getting concluded simultaneously, Indians and Australian players were the biggest gainers following wins in Cape Town and Sydney respectively.

Australia took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series against Pakistan with a 79-run win in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. While Pakistan gave a tough fight, it wasn't to be for Shan Masood's men as Pat Cummins registered his second 10-wicket haul.

India's Shubman Gill is no more the top ranked batter in the One-Day Internationals as he missed the first two ODIs against South Africa in the ongoing series. Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is back on top of the rankings after losing it during the World Cup.

The Pakistan cricket team hasn't won a single Test series in Australia yet. The last time Pakistan won a Test in Australia was way back in November 1995 in Sydney. Leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed was awarded the POTM award in that game for bagging 5/95 and 4/91 in Pakistan's 74-run win.

The first Test between Australia and Pakistan is set to commence on December 14 in Perth. Both teams have now named their playing XIs for the clash. Pakistan have handed Test debuts to two players in their playing XI and have not included any spinner.

The three-match Test series between Australia and Pakistan is set to commence on December 14 in Perth. Pakistan have not won a single Test in Australia since 1995 and Babar Azam will have to play a key role with the bat if they are to create history.

Pakistan are currently playing a four-day warm-up encounter against the Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. After three days of play, the match is heading towards draw but Pakistan bowlers struggling to pick wickets was the highlight of Day 3.

Pakistan are currently touring Australia for a three-match Test series. The first tie of the eagerly-awaited series will be played at the Perth Stadium.

Babar Azam scored 320 runs in nine ICC World Cup 2023 matches at an average of 40.00 with four fifties as Pakistan failed to secure the knockout qualification. Babar also resigned from captaincy duties across formats after a poor show in India.

Shan Masood was the star with the bat for Pakistan against the Prime Minister's XI. He looked solid and in complete control throughout his knock.

Newly appointed Pakistan's red-ball team skipper scored 156* off 235 balls against the Prime Minister's XI to kick off a three-match Test series with a lot of positives. Masood's hundred helped Pakistan score a total of 324/6 on Day 1 of the warm-up game in Canberra.

Babar Azam recently stepped down from the role of Pakistan captain after the World Cup 2023. He is now focusing on his batting as the Men in Green have named two different captains for Test and T20I cricket. Pakistan are facing Australia's Prime Minister's XI in a four-day match.

West Indies defeated England in the first ODI of the three-match series chasing down 326 runs with four wickets in hand. Skipper Shai Hope smashed his 16th ODI ton and remained unbeaten in the chase helping his team take an early lead in the series.

Glenn Maxwell signed off a brilliant tour of India with a record-equalling fourth T20I century against the hosts in the third of the five-match series in Guwahati. Maxwell helped Australia stay alive in the series after India had won the first two games and returned home after the 3rd T20I.