ABU DHABI: New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat in the series-deciding third and final Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
The series stands levelled at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first Test while Pakistan bounced back to clinch the second.
Fast-rising left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi is debuting for Pakistan, replacing medium pacer Mohammad Abbas who is ruled out with a shoulder injury.
The 18-year-old pacer took back to back four wicket hauls in the 1-1 drawn one-day series against New Zealand last month before getting seven wickets against England Lions in a four-day match, also in Abu Dhabi.
For the final encounter, Pakistan also have their hopes pinned on leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who is set to become the fastest to reach 200 Test wickets.
The 32-year-old needs just five wickets to shatter Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmettt´s record of completing 200 wickets in 36 Tests, way back in 1936. That will be icing on the cake as Pakistan hope Yasir — whose 14 wicket match haul crushed New Zealand to an innings and 16 run defeat in the second Test in Dubai — can come good again.
He took eight wickets in the first Test here but Pakistan fell agonisingly short, losing by four runs before levelling the series at 1-1.
New Zealand will gain confidence from their second innings batting with return to form of Ross Taylor who made 81, Henry Nicholls scored 77 and Tom Latham´s 50.
Teams
Pakistan: Imam ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Bilal Asif, Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi
New Zealand: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Will Somerville, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)
TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
