PAK vs NZ 2nd Test: Pakistan looks to get back to winning ways at home against New Zealand

Pakistan will look to bring in pacer Naseem Shah or Hasan Ali, while New Zealand may consider Matt Henry in place of a spinner if it finds the pitch suitable for pace.

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (L) speaks with Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam during a practice session. | Photo Credit: AFP

A draw last week having stopped a run of defeats for Pakistan and New Zealand, both sides will look to go one better in the second and final Test in Karachi starting Monday.

The tame draw halted Pakistan’s four-Test losing streak at home, including its first-ever 3-0 whitewash by England.

New Zealand also arrived in Pakistan on the back of a 3-0 drubbing by England.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam vowed his team would play “positive and aggressive cricket” after it finished 2022 without a Test win at home.

“We need to take things session-by-session and day-by-day,” he said.

“We’re working on it. It’s not that we need to play different cricket.”

New Zealand was in a good position to win the first Test on the final day with Pakistan on 77-2, needing 97 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

But Saud Shakeel, who scored 55 not out, and Mohammad Wasim with 43, averted the danger with a 71-run eighth wicket stand, eating up time and overs to salvage a draw.

Pakistan declared on 311-8, but a target of 138 in 15 overs under fading light was tough for New Zealand, which finished on 59-1.

“We need to credit New Zealand with the way they played and dominated,” said Azam, who finished the year as the highest scorer in Tests with 1,184 in nine matches.

The National Stadium pitch helped slow bowlers, as 23 of the 28 wickets in the first Test went to the spinners.

At the same venue but on a different pitch, New Zealand will also look for a win after going without one in its last five Tests.

“It does look different from the first Test... It has a bit more moisture,” said batting coach Luke Ronchi on Sunday.

“The preparations are shorter than normal, obviously, we had just a two-day turnaround.

“It’s going to be a hard slog to get a result, you have to bat really well and need to take 20 wickets.”

Pakistan will look to bring in pacer Naseem Shah or Hasan Ali, while New Zealand may consider Matt Henry in place of a spinner if it finds the pitch suitable for pace.