Aware of the dangers that spin wizard Rashid Khan poses as a bowler, New Zealand batters tried to work through his spell and were able to nullify the threat during their 149-run win over Afghanistan, said wicketkeeper-batter Glenn Phillips.
For Pakistan, Rauf clinched three wickets while Afridi grabbed two scalps.
Images from the first T20 International between India and New Zealand, in Jaipur, on Wednesday.
Trent Boult was named in the New Zealand squad for part of the upcoming Twenty20 series against Australia on Wednesday, indicating that the veteran fast bowler is still in the frame for the World Cup in June.
India's batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, spinner Ravi Bishnoi and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh also feature in ICC T20I Team of the Year for 2023.
New Zealand's hopes of levelling the T20 series against India with victory in the final match on Tuesday have taken a blow with captain Kane Williamson opting out of the match for a medical appointment.
Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand via the Super Over in the opening Twenty20 international on Sunday for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, as Charith Asalanka hit a half-century before guiding them home in the tie-breaker.
A seemingly invincible India will be eager to sharpen their game against spin and give a run to second-line players ahead of the semi-final when they take on New Zealand in their last group match of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday.
The Kiwis named their 15-player squad for the ninth edition of the 20-over showcase on Monday, with the Black Caps opting for an experienced squad that includes Williamson and fast bowling duo Tim Southee and Trent Boult.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson will take over the captain's role for the first time in his career as regular skipper Kane Williamson continues to recover from a knee injury, and his deputy Tom Latham has been rested for the series.
Suryakumar Yadav was named as one of the four nominees for the ICC Men's T20 Cricketer of the Year 2023.
In a nervy finish, Australia snatched a last-ball win over New Zealand in the first T20 International in Wellington.
Get your low down on what's happening in the world of Hollywood, right here!
Images from Day 2 of the 3rd Test played between India and New Zealand, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Virat Kohli's World record 50th ODI hundred, a scintillating century by Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami's brilliant pace bowling powered the hosts past New Zealand in the first semi-final with a 70-run victory at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
New Zealand last toured Pakistan in 2003 for a white-ball series and since then have avoided touring the country because of security reasons.
Afghanistan stunned New Zealand by a whopping 84 runs in the T20 World Cup match on Saturday.
New Zealand, who beat England by 12 runs in their previous match, advanced to the February 21 final on net run rate. They had only needed to score 175 to have the superior run rate.
Captain Babar Azam was delighted after hitting an unbeaten century as Pakistan notched up back-to-back wins over New Zealand with a 38-run victory over the tourists in the second Twenty20 International in Lahore on Saturday.
India has only minor concerns, but New Zealand's troubles across batting and bowling departments are more pronounced.
India will look for the right balance as they aim for a series-levelling victory against a spunky New Zealand in the must-win second Test.
England will need to defeat Namibia in their last league match and hope that Scotland lose to Australia.
A turner in Pune exposed the soft underbelly of Indian batters' technique against slow bowling but as per the current team's philosophy, it has decided to take the bull by its horns by asking for a turner where the ball might turn at right angles from first hour.
Scotland dished out a superb all-round performance to notch up an eight-wicket win over Hong Kong via Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-affected inconsequential match of the ICC World Twenty20 in Nagpur on Saturday.
Ahead of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, here's a full list of the final squads of all ten teams.
Fast bowler Trent Boult is in line to play his first one-day international in almost a year after being included in New Zealand's 15-man squad for a four-match series against England.
New Zealand find themselves in the a difficult group with two-time champions West Indies and Afghanistan also vying for the the top two spots.
NZ face WI in virtual knockout, rain threatens to derail England again
Having already played their opening encounters in the ongoing cricket World Cup, it is time for New Zealand and the Netherlands to venture deep into the tournament as they face each other in Hyderabad on Monday.
Kane Williamson suffered an "inflamed AC joint in his left shoulder" while fielding in a Twenty20 match against India last week and will miss Wednesday's match in Hamilton and Saturday's clash in Auckland, New Zealand Cricket said on Tuesday.
New Zealand eye consolatory win over PNG
Fakhar Zaman fires as Pakistan beat New Zealand in rain-hit World Cup clash
New Zealand World Cup campaign on shaky ground as losses, injuries pile up
Kane Williamson showed his class in his first competitive outing in six months while Rachin Ravindra sizzled at the top of the order as New Zealand gunned down a 346-run target in their opening World Cup warm-up game against Pakistan
India T20I skipper Rohit Sharma has said that playing alongside Trent Boult for Mumbai Indians has helped both of them know each other's weaknesses and strengths and as a result, it is always a good battle when they play for their national teams.
Amir, Imad recalled to Pakistan squad for NZ T20I series
Images from the T20 World Cup Group C match between the West Indies and New Zealand in Trinidad on Thursday.
New Zealand pacer Doug Bracewell has been called in as a replacement for the injured Matt Henry in the ODI squads for India and Pakistan.
"He has indicated he's available for the World Cup," Stead told reporters.
