Colombo, Feb 20 (NationPress) New Zealand's middle-order batsman Mark Chapman shared an encouraging update regarding the availability of regular captain Mitchell Santner ahead of the Black Caps' clash against Pakistan in their Group 2 match during the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Colombo this Saturday.

Chapman mentioned that Santner, who was absent from the previous game against Canada due to illness, appears to be in good spirits. “Mitch Santner looks pretty sprightly, so I think he's pretty excited to get back to the park. Barring any last-minute sickness, I think he'll be there,” he stated.

He also noted that Lockie Ferguson is currently on parental leave. “I think he's currently on the way back, and I think he's landing potentially soon. So we'll just see how he pulls up from the flight,” Chapman added during the pre-match press conference on Friday.

Chapman believes that New Zealand has a solid grasp of the challenges posed by Pakistan, especially against their spin-heavy bowling attack, after facing them frequently over the past year.

“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,” he explained.

While acknowledging Tariq’s unique bowling style, Chapman emphasized that the team is preparing for the overall challenge rather than concentrating on a single bowler.

“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 remarked.

Since August 2024, both teams have met 20 times in ODIs and T20Is, highlighting an intense rivalry and mutual understanding of each other’s strengths.

However, Chapman pointed out that familiarity does not eliminate the necessity to adapt, particularly as conditions in Colombo are expected to differ greatly from those previously encountered in India.

“I think in India we've seen that the pitches, particularly on red soil, have been favourable for batting. So, it's been pretty tough for the bowlers. The margins have been pretty small,” he clarified.

“You've seen a lot of games nearing that 200 score regularly. I think the bowlers have certainly had a little bit of a challenge. But here it's slightly different with the slower nature of the pitches. The bowlers will, hopefully, get a chance to really show off their skills,” he continued.

Given that Sri Lankan pitches typically offer more support to spin, Chapman stressed the need to carefully assess conditions before sticking to a specific strategy. “I know that spin is probably more likely to play a part here in particular. So, yeah, we'll just wait and see what the pitch looks like,” he stated.

New Zealand also benefits logistically in the Super 8 stage, as they will play all three matches in Colombo, a factor Chapman feels could be advantageous.

“I think, when you play in these tournaments, one of the challenges is hopping from venue to venue and adapting. I guess playing all three games here, we'll learn each game as we go,” he noted.

“It's quite nice to be able to turn up to the same place and the same venue, similar pitches and adjust. So I think, yeah, certainly something that we're not complaining about,” he concluded.