The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the much-awaited limited-overs series between Pakistan and New Zealand will be officiated by former Test cricketers Ali Naqvi and Chris Broad. The series, set to commence on April 14 in Lahore, will see renowned umpire Aleem Dar officiating.
Ali Naqvi will serve as the match referee during the five T20Is, which will be spread across Lahore and Rawalpindi. Ahsan Raza, Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi, and Rashid Riaz will take on-field umpiring duties. Amongst the umpires to officiate in the series, Ahsan Raza and Joel Wilson are members of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, while others are members of the ICC International Panel of Umpires.
In the five ODIs, which will be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi, Chris Broad, a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will officiate for the first time in 14 years in Pakistan. The on-field umpiring duties will be carried out by Ahsan Raza, Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi, Langton Rusere, Joel Wilson, and Rashid Riaz.
The T20Is will begin at 9 pm, while the ODIs will start at 3:30 pm. The schedule for the series is as follows:
• April 14 – 1st T20I, Lahore • April 15 – 2nd T20I, Lahore • April 17 – 3rd T20I, Lahore • April 20 – 4th T20I, Rawalpindi • April 24 – 5th T20I, Rawalpindi • April 27 – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi • April 29 – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi • May 3 – 3rd ODI, Karachi • May 5 – 4th ODI, Karachi • May 7 – 5th ODI, Karachi
The playing control teams, led by Naqvi and Broad, will ensure that the matches are played in accordance with the laws of cricket and maintain the spirit of the game. This series is an essential opportunity for both teams to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held later this year in India. The PCB has taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the players and officials during the series.
