Pakistani captain Babur Azam, who is recovering from a thumb injury, is suspected of playing in the first Test against New Zealand at Mount Mongunui since December 26. Babur, who has scored the most runs in all three formats for Pakistan since last year, was injured during practice in Queenstown on December 12, which resulted in him being ruled out of the three-match T20 series.

According to sources, Babar is recovering from injury and is able to practice lightly but it is not said that he will be fully fit for the first Test match. Pakistani opener Imam ul Haq has a fractured thumb and has been instructed to rest for 12 days. With Tim Southee’s deadly bowling and the century partnership between captains Kane Williamson and Tim Seifert, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by nine wickets in a T20 International cricket match to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

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New Zealand set a target of 164 runs for the loss of one wicket in 19.2 overs. After the dismissal of opener Martin Guptill (21), Seafert (84 not out off 63 balls) and Williamson (57 off 42 balls) shared a 129-run partnership for the second wicket. Earlier, South had taken four wickets for 21 runs in four overs, allowing Pakistan to score 163 for six despite an unbeaten 99 by veteran Mohammad Hafeez.

Hafeez played 57 balls in his innings and hit 10 fours and five sixes but could not reach his first century. He hit the last three deliveries of his innings with four and two sixes. Hafeez is the third batsman to remain unbeaten on 99 at T20 International.

Despite the team’s defeat, Virat progressed in the Test rankings, with only Smith ahead