New Zealand may have not lost an one-day international (ODI) to Pakistan for four years, but captain Kane Williamson is not taking anything for granted when the sides take to the field in Abu Dhabi today.
The Black Caps have won their past 11 games in the 50-over format against Pakistan, a run that stretches back to when they last toured the UAE in 2014.
Confidence should be high ahead of the start of the three-match series at Zayed Cricket Stadium, but Williamson said: "It’s a new series and a fresh start.
“I guess it’s a nice stat to have but at the end of the day, come tomorrow, it’s what happens on the day.”
While New Zealand may be strong in ODIs they have struggled in Twenty20 clash and come into Wednesday's match on the back of being beaten 3-0 by Pakistan in their series in that version of the game.
But despite their struggles in T20s, Williamson believes that not everything was a negative from those three losses.
“There were some really good parts in that T20 series we can take forward,” he said.
“If you look at the first two games. They could have gone either way and the conversation we are having could have been quite different, but it wasn’t to be and we did go down 3-0. I must say Pakistan played really well.
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“It’s important we learn from that and take the positives. I guess the conditions adapting to them after a long break is one.
“Then we saw quick adjustments from the guys and small margins we do and be clinical on that, then the outcome or the result can change. For us, it’s just execute our plans as well as we can, knowing what works well for us and fine-tuning it as well.”
Trent Boult, the left arm seamer is returning to the side after the birth of a child to his wife, and Williamson said he can strengthen the bowling.
“He’s an experience bowler, brings in pace and swing, and an aggressive option for us,” he said.
The Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said the momentum was with them going into the series.
“This series is very important for us as we want to take the ODI team on the path to improvement, keeping in mind the 2019 World Cup,” he said.
“However, we are not looking beyond this series at the moment. New Zealand are a very competitive side and they have shown that by giving us a tough time in the T20 series.
“Their ODI has lot of experienced players. Trent Bolt is back in the side, Tom Latham is there and even Henry Nicholls. These are the players who have been performing well for them.”
