MOHALI — Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz and batsman Mohammad Hafeez are doubtful starters in a key World Twenty20 match against unbeaten New Zealand Tuesday.
Left-armer Riaz was hit by a ball on the head during a training session Monday while Hafeez has pain in the right knee.
The Pakistan Cricket Board says in a medical bulletin that Riaz was hospitalized and later given the all-clear. It adds that his fitness will be assessed Tuesday.
Hafeez had complained of knee pain for the last two days and the PCB says "it is likely that he would not be able to take part in the match against the Black Caps."
A resurgent New Zealand, meanwhile, will be eyeing a semifinal berth when it takes on a deflated Pakistan.
Smarting under a six-wicket defeat to archrival India, Shahid Afridi's men need a victory against the table-topping Kiwis to keep their hopes alive of winning the trophy for a second time.
Pakistan won its opener against Bangladesh comfortably but things have since gone downhill as it unraveled against the Indians Saturday.
The Black Caps in contrast have been riding high with their horses for courses policy paying rich dividends against India and Australia.
New Zealand is perched on top of Group 2 with four points followed by India and Pakistan on two each from as many games.
Skipper Kane Williamson has won plaudits after he packed his side with unheralded spinners and leaving out tested fast bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee in the key opening game against favorites India.
Its strategy worked well against Australia too with rookie spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi combining with recalled paceman Mitchell McClenaghan to wreak havoc in the opposition ranks.
McClenaghan was a surprise replacement for Nathan McCullum, one of the heroes of New Zealand's dramatic victory over India.
"I think we were fortunate to play on two wickets which were very similar. We adopted similar tactics," Williamson said after the win over his trans-Tasman rivals.
"You have to try and read the conditions and select accordingly."
Another win will see New Zealand cruise through to the knockout stage of the tournament which would be a commendable feat for a young side.
Afridi, 36, will be under pressure to deliver after taking flak for his tactics against India.
Teams
Pakistan (from): Shahid Afridi (captain), Anwar Ali, Imad Wasim, Khalid Latif, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sami, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz.
New Zealand (from): Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor. — Agencies
