Azhar to join squad today

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan team’s head coach for the T20 series against New Zealand Azhar Mehmood will join the national team on Monday (today).

The players have reached Islamabad from different parts of the country. Azhar, who originally hails from the capital city, now resides in England.

“Azhar will be arriving from England Monday while all other members of the squad checked in the hotels Sunday evening,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official accompanying the team said. Pakistan cricketers will start their training at the Pindi Stadium on Monday evening. The series opens with the first T20I on April 18.

Meanwhile, the visiting New Zealand cricket team will be enjoying two days of rest following a lengthy flight that took them from Christchurch to Dubai en route to Islamabad. The team reached Islamabad Airport in the wee hours on Sunday. Hours after, the team checked at their hotels in Islamabad where the visitors plan a complete two days rest before starting their practice session on April 16.