PAK vs NZ 1st T20I: Pakistan Announce Playing 11; Santner Misses Out For New Zealand Aftrer Testing Positive For Covid

Pakistan announced their playing 11 well in advance as New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner is set to miss out in the first T20I of the five-match series on Friday (January 12) after being tested positive for COVID-19.

The first T20I of the five-match series between New Zealand and Pakistan will take place today at Auckland's Eden Park. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the news of the all-rounder's infection.

"Mitch Santner won't travel to Eden Park this evening for the opening KFC T20I against Pakistan after testing positive for COVID earlier today. He will continue to be monitored over the coming days and will travel solo home to Hamilton. #NZvPAK," tweeted NZC.

While Santner is ruled out of the first T20I, New Zealand will be hopeful the all-rounder will be available for the second T20I at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday (January 14).

Santner is a key player in the Kiwi T20I set-up, with 610 runs in 64 innings at an average of 16.94, with one half-century. He has also taken 105 wickets in 93 matches.

New Zealand Squad for 1st T20I vs Pakistan: Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Kane Williamson (captain), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Ben Sears.

Pakistan, meanwhile, named their playing 11 very early, revealing a possible split of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan opening partnership with the addition of Saim Ayub.

Also returing to the Pakistan side are pacer Haris Rauf, batters Fakhar Zaman and Azam Khan, who is interestingly being named as the wicketkeeper in the post made by Pakistan on X, formerly twitter just hours before the match. Here is a look at the playing 11 for PAK vs NZ 1st T20I:

Pakistan 11 vs New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wicketkeeper), Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi.