LAHORE: Experienced New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham is surely looking forward to utilising his experience of playing for Peshawar Zalmi in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8 in the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan.
Under the leadership of Babar Azam, Neesham featured in seven games of the PSL 8. He scored 87 runs and took six wickets in the tournament.
“I played a few games here during the PSL a month or so ago, I think the feel of the atmosphere has changed a little bit, it's obviously a lot warmer than it was at that time. So essentially a little bit more on offer for the bowlers as far as swing and that kind of thing,” he said.
“We've had a bit of success in this format over the last six or eight years and we know how we operate, and especially in these conditions, as well, it'll be about sticking to those plans, and we're expecting quite high scoring encounters on what looks like a good wicket. So especially for the bowling attack, it's about maintaining composure and trying to you know, limit those big overs,” said the all-rounder.
The hard-hitting batter has represented New Zealand in 71 ODIs and 63 T20Is.
He will be the experienced batter in New Zealand's inexperienced side as their main players are busy in playing Indian Premier League (IPL).
New Zealand and Pakistan will play first T20I of five-match series tomorrow at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Squads
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Will Young, Chad Bowes, Dane Cleaver, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Henry Shipley, Blair Tickner