Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir will host an iftar dinner, during the ongoing holy month of Ramadan, for the Pakistan men’s cricket team on April 8, instead of April 7, in Rawalpindi.
Top officials of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi are also set to be invited for the iftar dinner.
The national side is currently taking part in a fitness camp in Kakul, Abbottabad, ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand on home soil. Pakistan players underwent training and gym exercises at the Army School of Physical Training (ASPT).
It must be noted that New Zealand will touch down in Pakistan on April 14 for the eagerly-anticipated five-match T20I series.
The two teams will play three T20Is at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on 18, 20 and 21 April. Following that, both sides will move to Lahore, where they will play the remaining two T20Is of the series on 25 and 27 April, respectively.
All five matches of the T20I series will start at 7:00pm (PST).
Michael Bracewell will lead New Zealand during their tour of Pakistan.
Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner and Kane Williamson won’t feature in the series due to Indian Premier League commitments.
Colin Munro was also unavailable for selection, while Tim Southee has been rested.
Will Young was also unavailable for selection due to his contract with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, as was Tom Latham, who is awaiting the birth of his second child.
Wellington’s Tim Robinson and Canterbury’s Will O’Rourke have been picked for the first time in New Zealand’s T20I squad.
Pakistan’s squad is set to be announced on Monday, according to sources.