ABU DHABI – New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
There is all to play for in the match as the series is level at 1-1, after New Zealand won the first Test by four runs in Abu Dhabi and Pakistan bounced back with an innings and 16 runs victory in Dubai.
New Zealand brought back experienced pacer Tim Southee in place of Neil Wagner while leg-spinner Ish Sodhi made way for 34-year-old off-spinner Will Somerville who is making his debut.
Pakistan were forced to leave out Mohammad Abbas who injured his shoulder in Dubai. He is replaced by 18-year-old left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is making his debut.
The teams are:
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Hassan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Ajaz Patel, Jeet Raval, Will Somerville, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)
Tv umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)