Groundsmen remove the covers from the pitch after a rain shower during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, 2024. Photo: AFP
The first T20 international between Pakistan and New Zealand in Rawalpindi has been abandoned due to rain.
The match was delayed by more than two hours before officials decided to start a five-over game. However it lasted just two deliveries before the rain started to fall again.
Debutant Tim Robinson was bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi for a duck, and straight afterwards the players left the field for good.
Tim Seifert was the other opener. New Zealand was 2/1 with two leg byes.
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell won the toss at the scheduled time and decided to bat, but rain prevented them from starting on time.
The eleven named were Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, James Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk) and Ish Sodhi.
The second of five T20s is scheduled for Rawalpindi on Sunday morning (NZ time).