talkSPORT betting tips – Best cricket bets and expert advice for the Pakistan vs New Zealand T20
Pakistan and New Zealand continue their preparation for June's T20 World Cup with a five-match series starting on Thursday.
All-rounder Michael Bracewell will captain a depleted Black Caps side in Rawalpindi as the tourists are missing injured opener Finn Allen and fast bowler Adam Milne, as well as nine players who are involved in the IPL.
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Pakistan vs New Zealand tips
- Mark Chapman - New Zealand Top Batter @ 10/3
- Imad Wasim - Pakistan Top Bowler @ 11/2
- Tim Robinson - Over 17.5 Runs @ 17/20
Chapman could make his mark after stunning 2023 tour
New Zealand beat Pakistan 4-1 in a home T20I series in January, when Kiwi opener Allen smashed 275 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 195.
Conditions and personnel will be very different in Rawalpindi and Lahore so Pakistan, whose players are not available for the IPL, are hot favourites to win Thursday's opening game.
New Zealand's Mark Chapman had a quiet home series against Pakistan but excelled on last year's tour, being named Player of the Series in the T20 internationals.
He scored 34, 65 not out and 16 not out in the first three T20Is in Lahore before blistering knocks of 71 not out and 104 not out in the last two games in Rawalpindi.
Chapman followed up with a couple of half-centuries against the UAE in Dubai and cracked an unbeaten 40 off 25 balls in last September's win over England at Trent Bridge.
The left-hander will be targeting a spot in the World Cup squad and he looks a good bet to top-score for an understrength New Zealand batting unit in the first T20.
Veteran spinner raring to go in Rawalpindi
Babar Azam has been reappointed as Pakistan's T20 captain and his squad for the New Zealand series includes fast bowler Mohammad Amir and experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim.
Swansea-born left-arm spinner Imad has a fine T20 record in Rawalpindi, taking 2-27 against Zimbabwe in 2020 and 3-19 and 2-21 against New Zealand in April 2023.
He should be full of confidence after picking up 5-23 to help Islamabad United beat Multan Sultans in last month's Pakistan Super League final and Pakistan's spinners bowled out New Zealand for just 92 in January's fifth T20 in Christchurch.
New Zealand youngster could prove a big hit
There is plenty of buzz around uncapped New Zealand batter Tim Robinson, who cracked 139 off just 64 balls for Wellington against Otago in a Super Smash match just before Christmas.
The 21-year-old should get an opportunity to showcase his power on the international stage and his last T20 innings in the Super Smash was a 46-ball 86 against Canterbury in January.
A tour of Pakistan is a step into the unknown for the big-hitting youngster, but skipper Bracewell is a familiar face from the Wellington dressing-room.
Like the injured Allen, Robinson should be encouraged to play his natural, aggressive game for the Kiwis and if the debutant gets going it may not take him long to pass a runs line of 17.5.
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