New Zealand
New Zealand's Ardern, an icon to many, to step down
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was praised around the world for her handling of the nation’s worst mass shooting and the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, said Thursday she was leaving office.
Ardern was facing mounting political pressures at home and a level of vitriol from some that hadn’t been experienced by previous New Zealand leaders. Still, her announcement came as a shock to people throughout the nation of 5 million people.
Fighting back tears, Ardern told reporters in Napier that Feb. 7 would be her last day as prime minister.
“I am entering now my sixth year in office, and for each of those years, I have given my absolute all,” she said.
Ardern became an inspiration to women around the world after first winning the top job in 2017 at the relatively young age of 37. She seemed to herald a new generation of leadership — she was on the verge of being a millennial, had spun some records as a part-time DJ, and wasn’t married like most politicians.
To many, she was the antithesis of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Read more: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to leave office next month, sets October election
In 2018, she became just the second world leader to give birth while holding office. Later that year, she brought her infant daughter to the floor of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
In March 2019, Ardern faced one of the darkest days in New Zealand’s history when a white supremacist gunman stormed two mosques in Christchurch and slaughtered 51 people. She was widely praised for the way she empathized with the survivors and New Zealand’s Muslim community in the aftermath.
Less than nine months later, she faced another tragedy when 22 tourists and guides were killed when the White Island volcano erupted.
Ardern was lauded globally for her country’s initial handling of the coronavirus pandemic. after New Zealand managed to stop the virus at its borders for months. But she was forced to abandon that zero-tolerance strategy as more contagious variants spread and vaccines became widely available.
Ardern faced growing anger at home from those who opposed coronavirus mandates and rules. A protest against vaccine mandates that began on Parliament’s grounds last year lasted for more than three weeks and ended with protesters hurling rocks at police and setting fires to tents and mattresses as they were forced to leave. This year, Ardern was forced to cancel an annual barbecue she hosts due to security fears.
Ardern last month announced a wide-ranging Royal Commission of Inquiry would look into whether the government made the right decisions in battling COVID-19 and how it could better prepare for future pandemics. A report is due next year.
Some experts said that sexist attitudes played a role in the anger directed at Ardern.
But her government also faced criticism that it had been big on ideas but lacking on execution. Supporters worried it hadn’t made promised gains on increasing housing supply and reducing child poverty, while opponents said it was not focusing enough on crime and the struggling economy.
Farmers protested against plans to tax cow burps and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Ardern had been facing tough reelection prospects. Her center-left Labour Party won reelection in 2020 with a landslide of historic proportions, but recent polls have put her party behind its conservative rivals.
Ardern said the role required having a reserve to face the unexpected.
“But I am not leaving because it was hard. Had that been the case I probably would have departed two months into the job,” she said. “I am leaving because with such a privileged role comes responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also, when you are not.”
She said her time in office had been fulfilling but challenging.
Read more: Ardern, rival turn her hot-mic vulgarity into charity’s win
“I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It is that simple,” she said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Ardern “has shown the world how to lead with intellect and strength.”
“She has demonstrated that empathy and insight are powerful leadership qualities,” Albanese tweeted.
“Jacinda has been a fierce advocate for New Zealand, an inspiration to so many and a great friend to me,” he added.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked Ardern on Twitter for her friendship and “empathic, compassionate, strong, and steady leadership.”
Ardern charted an independent course for New Zealand. She tried to take a more diplomatic approach to China than neighboring Australia, which had ended up feuding with Beijing. In an interview with The Associated Press last month, she’d said that building relationships with small Pacific nations shouldn’t become a game of one-upmanship with China.
Ardern on Thursday also announced that New Zealand’s 2023 general elections would be held on Oct. 14, and that she would remain a lawmaker until then.
It’s unclear who will take over as prime minister until the election. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson announced that he won’t contest the leadership of the Labour Party, throwing the competition open.
Labour Party lawmakers will vote for a new leader on Sunday. If no candidate gets at least two-thirds support from the caucus, then the leadership contest will go to the wider party membership. Ardern has recommended the party chose her replacement by the time she finishes in the role on Feb. 7.
New Zealand Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon said Ardern had been a strong ambassador for the country on the world stage. He said that for his party “nothing changes” and it remains intent on winning the election and to "deliver a government that can get things done for the New Zealand people.”
Ardern said she didn’t have any immediate plans after leaving office, other than family commitments with her daughter, Neve, and her fiancé Clarke Gayford, after an outbreak of the virus thwarted their earlier wedding plans.
“And so to Neve, Mum is looking forward to being there when you start school this year,” Ardern said. “And to Clarke, let’s finally get married.”
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to leave office next month, sets October election
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose empathetic handling of the nation’s worst mass-shooting and health-driven response to the coronavirus pandemic led her to become an international icon but who faced mounting criticism at home, said Thursday she was leaving office.
Fighting back tears, Ardern told reporters in Napier that Feb. 7 will be her last day as prime minister.
“I am entering now my sixth year in office, and for each of those years, I have given my absolute all,” she said.
She also announced that New Zealand’s next general elections would be held on Oct. 14, and that she would remain a lawmaker until then.
It’s unclear who will take over as prime minister until the election. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson announced he wouldn’t be contesting for the leadership of the Labour Party, throwing the competition open.
Read more: New Zealand to decide on lowering voting age from 18 to 16
Ardern described her job as among the most privileged but challenging and said doing it required having a reserve to face the unexpected. She said she no longer had that reserve to serve another term.
She said her time in office has been fulfilling but challenging. “But I am not leaving because it was hard. Had that been the case I probably would have departed two months into the job. I am leaving because with such a privileged role, comes responsibility, the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also, when you are not. I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It is that simple,” she said.
Ardern had been facing tough election prospects. Her liberal Labour Party won reelection two years ago in a landslide of historic proportions, but recent polls have put her party behind its conservative rivals.
She was lauded globally for her country’s initial handling of the coronavirus pandemic after New Zealand managed for months to stop the virus at its borders. But that zero-tolerance strategy was abandoned once it was challenged by new variants and vaccines became available.
Read more: New Zealand to remove pandemic mandates as omicron wanes
She faced tougher criticism at home that the strategy was too strict.
Ardern in December announced a Royal Commission of Inquiry would look into whether the government made the right decisions in battling COVID-19 and how it can better prepare for future pandemics. Its report is due next year.
In March 2019, Ardern faced one of the darkest days in New Zealand’s history when a white supremacist gunman stormed two mosques in Christchurch and slaughtered 51 people. She was widely praised for the way she embraced the survivors and New Zealand’s Muslim community in the aftermath.
Natural, manmade factors behind New Zealand’s hottest year
New Zealand had its hottest year on record in 2022, beating a mark set just a year earlier thanks to a combination of natural weather cycles and manmade global warming, the agency that monitors temperatures said Wednesday.
The nation’s top four hottest years have all been recorded since 2016, and scientists don’t see the trend reversing. Records are being broken around the globe, with Spain and Britain among other nations to also hit new highs in 2022.
And as well as being warm, 2022 was also one of New Zealand’s wettest years. August storms flooded rivers, triggered landslides and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate.
In October, two of the country’s largest ski areas were placed into a type of bankruptcy proceeding following a disastrous winter season with barely any snow.
Also Read: UK saw hottest-ever year in 2022 as Europe's climate warms
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, which has been recording temperatures since 1909, said the average temperature across the country in 2022 was 13.8 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit).
That was more than 1.2 degrees Celsius above the long-term average and beat the previous record by 0.2 degrees Celsius.
Chris Brandolino, a principal scientist with the agency, said the high temperatures were driven by a combination of weather cycles including the La Niña system, which brings cooler-than-normal ocean temperatures to the tropical Pacific and warmer air to New Zealand.
He said manmade factors also contributed.
“Climate change continues to influence New Zealand’s long-term temperature trend,” Brandolino told reporters.
He said the levels of carbon dioxide measured in the atmosphere near Wellington keep rising.
“Unfortunately you can see that trend, dating back to before 2014, continues to go upward and in the wrong direction,” he said.
Brandolino said there was no discernable effect on last year’s weather from the massive eruption of a volcano in Tonga.
He said he expects the first few months of 2023 to continue being warmer and wetter than normal, and for temperatures over time to keep rising.
“It’s hard to see us breaking from the trend that we are on,” Brandolino said.
Williamson, Sodhi give New Zealand 81-run lead over Pakistan
Kane Williamson and tailender Ish Sodhi dug in — much to the frustration of Pakistan — as New Zealand moved ahead by 81 runs on the fourth day of the first cricket test on Thursday.
Williamson, who completed his first test hundred in almost two years late on Day 2, was not out on 137 off 308 balls while Sodhi was unbeaten on 41 off 127 balls in his comeback test match after four years.
New Zealand reached 519-6 at lunch.
Read more: Liton becomes highest ranked Bangladesh Test batter ever
Williamson has fully capitalized on two stumping chances early in his innings and now has batted for nearly eight hours, hitting 12 fours. Sodhi was closing in on his fourth test half century and showed plenty of determination with the bat on a slow turning wicket.
Resuming on 440-6 with a lead of two runs, both batters didn’t get troubled against spinners Abrar Ahmed (3-172) and Nauman Ali (2-154), who have bowled bulk of the overs.
Pakistan couldn’t get through the defenses of both overnight batters even after taking the third new ball with Sodhi hitting three boundaries against seamer Mir Hamza on the off side of the wicket.
Hamza, also making a comeback after playing his only previous test against Australia in 2018, could have got his first wicket in the penultimate over before the break but Pakistan didn’t appeal as the TV replays suggested he got a thin outside edge of Sodhi’s bat.
New Zealand’s lead was 24 when Nauman came close to dismissing Williamson on 116 in his second over of the day.
But Williamson quickly went for a successful television referral against umpire Aleem Dar’s lbw ruling after he missed a full-length delivery down the legside and the TV replays suggested the ball had pitched outside the off stump.
Both Abrar and Nauman also induced top edges that landed close to fielders as New Zealand continued to build its lead on its first test tour Pakistan since 2002.
Ardern, rival turn her hot-mic vulgarity into charity’s win
When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was caught on a hot mic using a vulgarity against a rival politician last week, it seemed the nation’s political discourse could be taking an ugly turn heading into an election year.
But Ardern and her target, lawmaker David Seymour, agreed on a plan to make good. They both signed an official parliamentary transcript of Ardern’s comment and auctioned it for charity. The auction closed Thursday with a top bid of just over 100,000 New Zealand dollars ($63,000).
“Can’t say I expected this,” Ardern wrote on Facebook. “A faux pas with the old mic in parliament has turned into $100,100 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. My thanks to David for being a good sport and to everyone who placed a bid.”
After five years as prime minister, Ardern faces a tough election campaign in 2023. Her liberal Labour Party won reelection two years ago in a landslide of historic proportions, but recent polls have put her party behind its conservative rivals.
Ardern’s comment had come after Seymour, who leads the libertarian ACT party, peppered Ardern with questions about her government’s record for around seven minutes during Parliament’s Question Time, which allows for spirited debate between rival parties.
After sitting down, Ardern, as an aside, said to her deputy “He’s such an arrogant pr———.” Her words were barely audible on Parliament TV but were just picked up in the background.
Ardern later sent an apologetic text to Seymour, who said he was “shocked and astonished” at her language, which was out of character. He said Ardern had said in her text that “as her mom said, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.”
Seymour then suggested the auction idea to Ardern at an end-of-year party with journalists and Ardern agreed.
Read more: New Zealand to decide on lowering voting age from 18 to 16
The auction was held on the New Zealand website Trade Me and attracted more than 280 bids. It was billed as “Ardern, Seymour join forces for pr———s everywhere.”
Peter Dickens, the chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, said he wanted to thank both politicians for their “classy” reaction. He said the money comes as a huge boost after a hard year during which normal fundraising activities were curtailed by COVID-19.
“We’ve been overjoyed and amazed all the way through the journey of this auction,” Dickens said. “It’s made more than we ever could have imagined.”
He said the money, equivalent to 10% of its annual budget, would go to a range of services it offers, including free counseling and support groups.
Dickens said prostate cancer is the nation’s most diagnosed form of cancer and that older men should consider getting a simple blood test to enable early detection.
“Just a little prick could save a life,” he said.
Study in New Zealand: Application process, cost for international students
From the creeks of Wellington to the nestled cityscape of Christchurch, the southern end of the Pacific treasures the beautiful country of New Zealand. This small island country is also a growing hub for higher study. With a rich culture, excellent academia, and perfect career growth opportunities, New Zealand can be a higher study destination. Let’s take a look at the study opportunities in New Zealand for international students at the bachelor, master's, and Ph.D. levels.
Why Study in New Zealand?
New Zealand has somewhat modest options compared to Nordic and central European countries. It might even pale compared to its Tasmanian rivals Australia with just 8 universities in total.
But that’s where the catch is. Even though New Zealand has only 8 universities, all of them are listed in the top 500 of the QS World Ranking. Additionally, all the New Zealand universities are part of the Lisbon Qualification Recognition Convention, which allows their degree to be recognized in 50 countries across the world.
Read More: UK accepting applications for GREAT Scholarships
The universities and curriculum are inclined to research as every university offers excellent pedagogy and outcome-based study facilities. New Zealand also offers up to 3 years of post-study visa to secure a job and build a career.
Additionally, the quality of life index in New Zealand is very high at 188 suggesting a perfect mix of PPI, health security as well as overall economic well-being.
Higher Study In New Zealand
New Zealand has a total of 8 universities and over 100 specialized institutions for training-based studies as well as Polytechnic studies. International students can access any of the universities or institutes, but the high concentration has always been on the university.
Read More: Study in Ireland: Application process, cost for international students
Popular streams include business and engineering, with a strong choice for life sciences as well. The university tracks accept students through an individual assessment based on available positions.
There is no centralized admission process in New Zealand for all universities. There are two intakes in New Zealand each year, one in February and the other in September.
Application for the February session starts around September of the previous year, whereas the application for the September intake starts around May of the same year.
Read More: Study in Thailand: Admission process, cost for International Students
For bachelor's, students will have to exclusively follow the central admission process of each university. For thesis-based masters and Ph.D., a prospective student can contact professors to supervise and they might fast-track the application process through recommendations.
Application Process
There are several steps involved in the admission process in New Zealand. And it all starts with choosing the right major and stream.
Choosing a Major
Since New Zealand has only 8 universities, there aren’t any dedicated websites for searching different streams and majors in different universities. So students will have to individually visit the admission section of the universities.
Read More: Higher Study Opportunities in Turkey for International Students: Process, Cost
You can check out the details here:
-University of Auckland
-University of Otago
-University of Canterbury
-Victoria University of Wellington
-Auckland University of Technology
-Massey University
-University of Waikato
-Lincoln University
In addition to streams and courses, students can also follow these websites for admission timelines and guidelines.
Read More: Study in Czech Republic: Application process, cost, scholarships
Required Documents
The second thing to consider is the required documents for the application. New Zealand doesn’t have any specialized requirements like some Nordic countries. Standard certified copies of documents are accepted either through mail or web portal. Some of the common documents applicable across the board include –
-Official Transcripts (Last completed Degree) -LOR -Statement of Purpose -Language Proficiency certification (IELTS/TOEFL iBT) -Proof of application fee payment -Bank statement -Additionally, some universities or majors may specifically require a GRE or GMAT score in case of applying for an MBA. Be sure to check that before proceeding.
Read More: Self-Funded Study Opportunity in France for International Students
Cost of Higher Education in New Zealand
With just 8 universities, it's pretty easy to break down the overall cost of education in New Zealand.
The cost of bachelors in New Zealand is roughly 32,000 NZD per year which translates to about 2121228 BDT (1 NZD = 66 BDT). On the other hand, the cost of master's is about 35,000 NZD or 2320093 BDT. The cost gets reduced for Ph.D. at around 8000 NZD or 530307 BDT per year.
The New Zealand regulation stipulates that you show at least a year’s tuition fee as a bank statement before arriving in New Zealand. Of course, there are other opportunities to cover the tuition fees, and we’ll discuss that in the next points.
Read More: Study in Japan: Scholarships, Tuitions, Application Process for Bangladeshi Students
Scholarship Opportunities in New Zealand
Since the higher study options themselves are limited in New Zealand, the scholarships are also somewhat limited. There are little to no scholarships available at the bachelor's level, with most of the scholarships available at the master's and Ph.D. levels.
Most of the available scholarships are university-based and students are either referred for the scholarship by the professor (in the case of thesis-based masters) or considered by the central admission authority.
Some notable scholarships include –
Lincoln University International Taught Master Merit Scholarships
Wellington Master’s by Thesis Scholarship
Tongarewa Scholarship at Victoria University of Wellington
University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship
University of Waikato International Excellence Scholarship
Energy Scholarship at the University of Canterbury.
Read More: Is Norway Ending Free University Education for Non-EU Students?
Cost of Living and Work Opportunities in New Zealand
The cost of living in New Zealand is on the higher side, mostly due to the high rent fees in city centers. A single-room apartment may cost up to 1500 NZD. Combined with personal expenses and utilities, the cost comes in at around 3000 NZD per month or 198865 BDT.
Students are allowed to work 20 hours per week at max with 40 hours being the cap at summer vacation.
Thankfully, New Zealand has a high minimum wage starting at around 18.50 NZD per hour.
After completion of the study, a student can convert their student visa into a job visa. The median salary for a fresh graduate in New Zealand stands at around 80,000 NZD or 5303071 BDT per year.
Read More: Study in Belgium: Bachelor's, Masters and PhD options for Bangladeshi students
Final Words
Even though New Zealand is a small island country across the end of the Pacific, it still boasts some of the best education in its limited capacity. With over 20,000 international students currently pursuing different degrees at different levels, New Zealand is also growing to be a multicultural, cosmopolitan country. The lenient immigration law combined with ample work and career prospects should be a positive indicator for Bangladeshi students wishing to pursue higher studies in New Zealand.
New Zealand to decide on lowering voting age from 18 to 16
New Zealand lawmakers will take a vote on whether to lower the national voting age from 18 to 16, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday.
Her announcement came hours after the country's Supreme Court ruled that not allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote amounted to age discrimination.
But while Ardern said she personally favors lowering the age, such a change would require a 75% supermajority of lawmakers to agree. And even proponents acknowledge they don't currently have the numbers.
A number of countries are debating whether to lower their voting age. Some that allow people to vote at 16 include Austria, Malta, Brazil, Cuba and Ecuador.
Sanat Singh, co-director of New Zealand's Make It 16 campaign, said he was absolutely thrilled with the court's decision.
Read more: Climate change in New Zealand to cause sperm, blue whales to seek higher latitudes
“It's a huge day,” he said. “This is historic not only for our campaign, but for the country.”
Singh, 18, said existential issues like climate change — as well as issues like pandemic recovery and the state of democracy — will most affect young people.
“That's why I think it's really important to get all hands on deck to make sure we can have a stronger future,” he said.
Ardern, who leads the liberal Labour Party, said all lawmakers should have a say on the issue.
“I personally support a decrease in the voting age but it is not a matter simply for me or even the government,” Ardern said. “Any change in electoral law of this nature requires 75% of parliamentarians' support.”
Ardern said the vote would likely take place within the coming months but any change would not take effect until after next year's general election.
The liberal Green Party said it supported a change.
“Young people deserve to have a say in the decisions that affect them, both now and in the future,” said Golriz Ghahraman, the party’s electoral reform spokesperson.
But New Zealand's two main conservative opposition parties said they oppose a change.
Read more: New Zealand welcomes back first cruise ship since COVID hit
“It's not something we support,” Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon told reporters. “Ultimately, you've got to draw the line somewhere, and we're comfortable with the line being 18.”
At the Supreme Court, four judges found in favor of the lobby group's appeal with a fifth judge dissenting to some aspects of the decision.
In New Zealand, the protection against age discrimination begins at 16, and the judges ruled that the attorney-general had failed to show why 18 had been chosen as the age to vote rather than 16.
The nature of the court’s ruling compelled New Zealand lawmakers to at least debate the issue, but it didn’t compel them to take a vote or to make a change.
Singh said he's hopeful that while his group may not yet have the 75% support it needs in Parliament, it will get there within the next few years. He said a possible first step would be to get the voting age lowered to 16 for local council elections, as that change requires only a regular majority of lawmakers.
New Zealand's voting age was previously lowered from 21 to 20 in 1969, and then to 18 in 1974.
T20 World Cup: Knocking out New Zealand, Pakistan moves to final
Pakistan knocked New Zealand out of the T20 World Cup and marched to the final on Wednesday.
In the first semifinal of the event, Pakistan beat New Zealand by seven wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
It’s the third time Pakistan booked a place in the T20 World Cup final. They appeared in a final for the first time in 2007 when they lost the final to India. But in 2009, they won the final beating Sri Lanka at Lord’s.
While chasing a fighting total of 152, both Pakistani openers — Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan — hit a fifty each and laid down an opening stand of more than 100 runs that eventually set the foundation for Pakistan to seal the match.
While Rizwan posted 57, Babar scored 53. After their departure, it was Mohammad Haris who kept the scorecard of Pakistan going. He scored 30 off 26 balls before falling prey to Mitchell Santner in the last ball of the 19th over.
Eventually, Pakistan reached the target of 153 for three in the 19.1 over and marched to the final that will be played on November 13 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne.
Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. They ended up on 152 for four in 20 overs.
Read more: T20 World Cup: Pakistan restrict New Zealand to 152 in 1st semi-final
New Zealand’s top-order struggled a lot in this match. Despite that, they managed to pass the 150-run mark.
Glenn Phillips failed to do well in the semi. He just posted 6 of 8 balls. Phillips batted at a strike rate of more than 150 in this World Cup ahead of the semi.
Daryl Mitchell was the best batter for the Kiwis posting 53 for 35 balls, and the captain Kane Williamson posted 46 runs.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi bagged two wickets conceding 24 runs while Mohammad Nawaz took one. New Zealand lost one wicket to run-out.
Read more: Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 world Cup Live Streaming: Where and How to watch semifinal live, Playing XI
The second semifinal will be played on Thursday where India will take on England. If India win the second semifinal, they will take on Pakistan in the final for the second time after 2007.
T20 World Cup: Pakistan restrict New Zealand to 152 in 1st semi-final
Pakistan bowled well and restricted New Zealand to 152 in the first semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022 at Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. They ended up on 152 for four in 20 overs.
New Zealand’s top-order struggled a lot in this match. Despite that, they managed to pass the 150-run mark.
Read more: T20 World Cup: Passionate New Zealand or fortunate Pakistan, who will march to final?
Glenn Phillips failed to do well in the semi. He just posted 6 of 8 balls. Phillips batted at a strike rate of more than 150 in this World Cup ahead of the semi.
Daryl Mitchell was the best batter for the Kiwis posting 53 for 35 balls, and the captain Kane Williamson posted 46 runs.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi bagged two wickets conceding 24 runs while Mohammad Nawaz took one. New Zealand lost one wicket to run-out.
Read More: T20 World Cup: India, England face off Thursday with eye on final against Pakistan
T20 World Cup 2022: New Zealand bat first vs Pakistan in 1st semi-final
New Zealand have won the toss and opted to bat first against Pakistan in the first semi-final of the ongoing T20 World Cup at Sydney Cricket Ground.
New Zealand marched to the semi as the champions of Group 1 in the Super 12 stage where they beat Australia, Sri Lanka and Ireland, and lost to England. The other match against Afghanistan ended with no result due to bad weather.
Pakistan, on the other hand, experienced a dramatic run in the Super 12 stage. They lost close matches to India and Zimbabwe and were on the verge of elimination. But the Netherlands had created a great opportunity for them by beating South Africa.
Also read; T20 World Cup 2022: Semifinalists, fixtures, venues, H2H records, probable lineups
That historic win of the Netherlands transformed the Super 12 clash between Bangladesh and Pakistan into a virtual quarter-final in which Pakistan edged a disorderly Bangladesh team, and eventually escaped the cliff edge to march to the semifinal.
Now, the South Asian giants are eager to pass the New Zealand challenge to advance to the final of MCG.
The semi-final came as a golden chance for New Zealand as well. Who have played three World Cup finals before and failed to win any of them. Now, once again, they are upbeat to book a final berth and clinch the title.
Also read: T20 World Cup: Passionate New Zealand or fortunate Pakistan, who will march to final?
Both New Zealand and Pakistan are unbeaten at the Sydney Cricket Ground. New Zealand beat the hosts Australia on this ground while Pakistan dealt with South Africa.
New Zealand had played three T20 World Cup semi-finals before and won only one of them while Pakistan played 5 T20 World Cup semis and won two of them.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi.
Read More: Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 world Cup Live Streaming: Where and How to watch semifinal live, Playing XI
New Zealand (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Kane Williamson(c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.