Pace ace Wahab Riaz has fired the first volley at the New Zealand side, warning the Kiwis of a fast bowling test when they face Pakistan in the upcoming ODI and T20 series.
New Zealand hammered Sri Lanka in the five-match ODI series before sweeping the T20 fixtures 2-0. Along the way their batsmen broke a few records as well.
But Wahab says Pakistan presents a whole new challenge to the swashbuckling hosts.
“It seems like cricket is very easy these days for the New Zealand batsmen,” Wahab told ESPNcricinfo.
“They’ve been hitting balls really well. It’s going to be a different challenge because we have much more good bowlers than Sri Lanka. They lacked experience, but we have experience and some quality bowlers as well. It’s not going to be easy for them to score runs against us.
“We cannot sit back and see what they are doing. We will definitely attack, and let’s see. If they can play good cricket - hats off to them,” he added.
Wahab, 30, was also part of the Pakistan team that defeated New Zealand 2-1 in T20s and 3-2 in one-day internationals on the 2010 tour to the country and hoped for a similar show when both the teams kick off their first T20 on Friday.
“We have some good memories here,” he said.
“We won the last series we played here in 2010, and the World Cup games we played here were very successful for us.
“It’s a great preparation for the World T20. Winning here against the Black Caps could be a great confidence booster for the team. They way they are playing right now - if we get the series win here, it will be great for Pakistan cricket.”
Amir will take pressure off me
For Wahab, 23-year-old Mohammad Amir’s inclusion in the team will strengthen Pakistan’s bowling lineup and will subsequently reduce pressure off him.
“Amir is a good inswing bowler, bowling with the new ball,” said Wahab. “He can bowl outswing as well. If you can take wickets with the new ball the pressure will always be on the batsmen. That’s I’m saying that him coming into the team will help us more.”
Wahab, who stunned the world cricket with his fiery spell to Australia’s Shane Watson during the 2015 World Cup quarter-final, was hopeful that his pace combination with Amir and Gul would give Pakistan a upper hand than what inexperienced Sri Lankan bowlers had against the in-form New Zealand batters.
“Amir is a great introduction to the team,” said Wahab.
“He’s getting a chance. He’s a great fast bowler – he’s proved that in the past. It’s time for him to prove here as well, again. And he will prove it. With him there’s less pressure on me as a bowler, because I’m getting his support. Umar Gul is back and is doing really well. It’s going to be a good combination for Pakistan.”
