Coach-less NZ face troubled Pakistan
Monday, 2 November 2009
ABU DHABI, Nov 1 (AFP): New Zealand and Pakistan will both be hoping they can overcome a series of setbacks when they clash in the first of three one-day internationals here Tuesday.
Since finishing runners-up to Australia in the Champions Trophy last month, New Zealand's problems have multiplied, following injuries to key players and the sudden departure of coach Andy Moles.
Moles's resignation after differences with some of the players has left a void, but skipper Daniel Vettori is confident his team are capable of rising to the occasion.
"Now every single person in the squad has to pick up a little bit of the slack," Vettori said when asked about the team's being without a coach.
"People will still expect us to win, there's no reason why we shouldn't, and that's the mindset that we have to have going," said Vettori who will be an acting-coach as well as a selector and the team's leading all-rounder.
The Black Caps will also be without hard-hitting opener Jesse Ryder, all-rounder Grant Elliott and pace spearhead Daryl Tuffey -- all nursing injuries. Their places go to the uncapped Bradley-John Watling, recalled Scott Styris and fast bowler Tim Southee.
Elliott starred in New Zealand's five-wicket win over Pakistan in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy in South Africa.
"It is disappointing because you would always want to bring your top team for a series," said Vettori. "Despite injuries we did well in the Champions Trophy and hope we can do the same."
Vettori will also be without a deputy after wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum quit the vice-captaincy to focus on his batting.
The New Zealand captain said both sides were struggling with their form.
"I think inconsistency probably plagues both the teams. There are some really talented players in both the sides who can win games but how often are we consistently doing that?," said Vettori.
Squads (from):
Pakistan: Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Umer Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Aaron Redmond, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Bradley-John Watling
Since finishing runners-up to Australia in the Champions Trophy last month, New Zealand's problems have multiplied, following injuries to key players and the sudden departure of coach Andy Moles.
Moles's resignation after differences with some of the players has left a void, but skipper Daniel Vettori is confident his team are capable of rising to the occasion.
"Now every single person in the squad has to pick up a little bit of the slack," Vettori said when asked about the team's being without a coach.
"People will still expect us to win, there's no reason why we shouldn't, and that's the mindset that we have to have going," said Vettori who will be an acting-coach as well as a selector and the team's leading all-rounder.
The Black Caps will also be without hard-hitting opener Jesse Ryder, all-rounder Grant Elliott and pace spearhead Daryl Tuffey -- all nursing injuries. Their places go to the uncapped Bradley-John Watling, recalled Scott Styris and fast bowler Tim Southee.
Elliott starred in New Zealand's five-wicket win over Pakistan in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy in South Africa.
"It is disappointing because you would always want to bring your top team for a series," said Vettori. "Despite injuries we did well in the Champions Trophy and hope we can do the same."
Vettori will also be without a deputy after wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum quit the vice-captaincy to focus on his batting.
The New Zealand captain said both sides were struggling with their form.
"I think inconsistency probably plagues both the teams. There are some really talented players in both the sides who can win games but how often are we consistently doing that?," said Vettori.
Squads (from):
Pakistan: Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Umer Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Aaron Redmond, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Bradley-John Watling