Paceman Umar Gul’s return boosts former world champions Pakistan against an under-strength New Zealand in the two Twenty20 internationals starting in Dubai on Thursday.
The 30-year-old returns from a knee problem which kept him away from international cricket since the fifth edition of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in April this year.
His inclusion will help Pakistan overcome the absence of ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal who is suspended from international cricket after his bowling action was found illegal in September this year.
Gul is the second highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game with 80 in 56 games, five behind Ajmal’s 85.
He famously took 5-6 in a World Twenty20 group match against New Zealand at The Oval when Pakistan won the title in 2009.
Pakistan will hope their pace attack, which also includes the lanky 7 feet, one inch (2.1m) Mohammad Irfan supplement the bowling attack which has spinners in Raza Hasan and Shahid Afridi.
Pakistan had a miserable World Twenty20 in Bangladesh where they failed to reach the last four for the first time in five editions of the tournament.
That prompted captain Mohammad Hafeez to step down, giving the responsibility to all-rounder Afridi for a second stint.
Afridi said Pakistan will not underestimate New Zealand who are without their dashing skipper Brendon McCullum who, along with pacemen Tim Southee and Trent Boult, have returned to New Zealand to prepare for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka.
“New Zealand is a dangerous limited over side and we will not underestimate them,” said Afridi. “We have to be at our best to beat them.”
Pakistan have beaten New Zealand in six of their nine Twenty20s with three losses.
After the second Twenty20, also in Dubai on Friday, both teams will play five one-day internationals. -AFP
