New Zealand middle-order batter Mark Chapman is banking on familiarity to counter Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack when the two sides meet in their Group 2 Super 8 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Colombo on Saturday.
The two teams are no strangers to each other. Since August 2024, New Zealand and Pakistan have faced off in 20 bilateral matches across ODIs and T20Is, a frequency that Chapman feels has given the Kiwis a detailed understanding of Pakistan’s bowling arsenal, including the challenge posed by mystery spinner Usman Tariq.
“Obviously, Usman Tariq has a pretty unique action with the way that he stops at the crease, so I mean that’s something to factor in. But for us, Pakistan have several really good spinners, so each of them poses their own threat,” Chapman said at the pre-match press conference in Colombo on Friday.
While Tariq’s unusual action demands attention, Chapman made it clear that New Zealand are preparing for a collective spin threat rather than focusing on one individual.
“So, Pakistan is one of the teams that we’ve played probably the most frequently over the last few years. So, we’re well aware of what they’re going to bring. It’s just about making sure we’re really clear in the way that we want to play as a team,” he added.
