New Zealand vs Pakistan 2018: 5 players to watch out for in the ODI series

After toying with history against the West Indies, the rejuvenated Blackcaps will look to continue their impressive record against Pakistan at home. Their recent domination over Asian opposition bodes well for their gruelling home season that sees them play Australia and England in a T20I tri-series and the latter in a full tour.

With the return of the swashbuckling opener, Martin Guptill, the Blackcaps have been bolstered in the batting department. While they have the deadly duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult, they won't have it all their own way. Pakistan are on the rise in white ball cricket and with a strong bowling line-up, they will look to usurp the Kiwi domination.

Here are five players to watch out for in the ODI series between New Zealand and Pakistan.

Faheem Ashraf

Pakistan are known to produce great all-rounders and they may have a gem on their hands in young Faheem Ashraf.

Ashraf has featured in just three ODIs and four T20Is for Pakistan, but has already made his mark with both bat and ball.

He had a decent warm-up game as well, picking up two wickets and contributing with 17 handy lower-order runs. If he does get a look-in, expect him to make the most of this opportunity, as he is set to form the core of the Pakistani side in the future.

Todd Astle

Todd Astle is quite capable with the bat

A late bloomer, Astle made his ODI debut in the first game of New Zealand's three-match series against Windies, picking up three wickets in the process. Interestingly, his ODI bow came five years after he played his first Test.

Astle is one of many bits-and-pieces cricketers to have emerged from the land of the Kiwis and at the age of 31, isn't likely to feature in the side for too long. Hence, he will be looking to make full use of this opportunity presented to him.

With the ability to deliver sharply-turning leg-breaks and also swing the willow lower down the order, Astle is perfectly suited to the shorter formats of the game and is a great addition to the New Zealand side.

Astle was included in the squad at the expense of Ish Sodhi, the No. 1-ranked T20I bowler in the world, ample evidence of the faith the management have in the veteran.

Babar Azam

Pakistan's best limited-overs batsman

One of Pakistan's most precocious talents, Babar Azam may have struggled in the whites for his side, but he has been one of their most consistent players in the shorter format of the game.

With an average of 59 in ODIs, Azam has cemented his spot in the Pakistan middle-order and has delivered in almost all conditions against a variety of oppositions.

Azam was in fine touch in the series against Sri Lanka, compiling two centuries in the first two games to go with a fifty in the fourth ODI.

The 23-year-old was Pakistan's leading run-getter in ODIs last year, with 872 runs at an average of 67 and the onus will be on him to blunt a New Zealand attack comprising Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson among others.

Azam missed out in the warm-up game, but will be gunning to get back into form in this series.

Imam-ul-Haq

Imam-ul-Haq is one for the future

Imam-ul-Haq has been making waves ever since his stunning entry into the international arena. With a century on debut against Sri Lanka in the third ODI of the five-match series last year, Imam silence the doubters who had criticised his selection. He followed it up with a patient 45 in the final game, helping his side seal a 5-0 whitewash of the visitors.

Imam may not get a look in for the first game with Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman in fine form - they both notched centuries in the tour game against New Zealand XI - but he could be included in the final couple of games if Pakistan feel the need to have an extra batsman against the fiery New Zealand bowling attack.

Colin Munro

Colin Munro is New Zealand's biggest weapon at the top of the order

Devastating at the top, Munro has found a new lease of life ever since being promoted to open for the Kiwis. Capable of taking the game away from the opposition in a matter of overs, Munro was in sublime form in the recently-concluded series against West Indies.

While he managed just 100 runs from three innings in the ODI series, he came into his own in the T20Is that followed, notching three consecutive half-centuries. His blistering century (off 47 balls) in the final game at Mount Maunganui made him the only batsman in history to have amassed three T20I hundreds.

He also broke Hamilton Masakadza's record of most runs in a bilateral T20I series, with 223.

Munro strikes at over 100 in ODIs and if he gets his eye in, can easily dismantle even a formidable-looking Pakistani bowling attack.