Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — The 2009 champion Pakistan is aiming to tick all the right boxes in its preparation phase ahead of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup as it gears up for the five-match series under comeback captain Babar Azam against an understrength New Zealand.

Rawalpindi will host the first three games from Thursday. The remaining two games will be staged at Lahore on April 25 and 27 as both squads build up to the world tournament being staged in the United States and Caribbean in June.

Babar returns as white-ball captain and will lead the squad for the third successive T20 World Cup. He replaces Shaheen Shah Afridi, who lost to the Black Caps 4-1 earlier this year in his maiden series as Pakistan's T20 skipper.

Babar led Pakistan to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in 2021 in the United Arab Emirates, where it lost to eventual champion Australia, and also skippered the side beaten by England at Melbourne in the 2022 edition.

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir and allrounder Imad Wasim have come out of retirements to give Pakistan plenty of selection options after express fast bowler Haris Rauf was ruled out of the series due to shoulder injury and Mohammad Nawaz was dropped.

Selectors rewarded several performers from the Pakistan Super League, including uncapped Usman Khan and Irfan Khan. Usman was banned by the UAE for five years after switching allegiance to his country of birth. He came into contention for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad after smashing back-to-back centuries for Multan Sultans in the PSL.

“We have a very balanced side and we have covered all the aspects of the game in this squad,” said Azhar Mahmood, head coach for the series against New Zealand. “Definitely, with the comeback of Amir and Imad we have an edge and we can use them any time.”

Mahmood was appointed on ad-hoc basis as Pakistan is still searching for a long-term head coach ahead of the T20 World Cup. Pakistan is also scheduled to play a three-match T20 series in Ireland next month and another four matches against England are lined up before the team flies out to America.

Mahmood said he wants to give clarity of roles to the players during the series against New Zealand and could also rest key players, including Babar, to test the depth of the squad.

“Definitely, it is quite possible we might give rest to Babar,” Mahmood said. “It’s the best available talent we have picked. We will see how the series goes and what the conditions are.”

The core of New Zealand's World Cup-bound squad, including captain Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell and Lockie Ferguson, is playing in the Indian Premier League. Also missing from the Pakistan tour will be veteran Tim Southee, who was rested, and Tom Latham was given paternity leave.

New Zealand's squad was further depleted when power-hitter Finn Allen and fast bowler Adam Milne were ruled out because of injuries sustained during a training camp last week.

The Black Caps will be led by Michael Bracewell, who hasn’t played an international game since March 2023 after rupturing his right Achilles during the T20 Blast and then breaking a finger.

Mark Chapman, who scored 290 runs in a drawn T20 series in Pakistan last year, hoped players such as fast bowler Will O’Rourke and power-hitter Tim Robertson will do well.

“Any team that plays for New Zealand is a team that’s extremely proud to be representing our country,” Chapman said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to show the depth that we’re building. Obviously the team generally has been pretty settled, but behind the scenes, there’s a lot of talent.

“The young guys like Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke have played this year in test cricket and really impressed. Also, Tim Robertson was outstanding this year in the Super Smash and the guys are really excited because they know that (they're playing) a full-strength Pakistan team.”

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New Zealand's skipper Michael Bracewell, second left, and teammates attend a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam, left, and teammate Mohammad Rizwan attend a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's cricket players attend a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's cricket players warm up for a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Ish Sodhi attends a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's cricket players, left, and Pakistan's players attend a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's cricket players attend team meeting ahead of a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's cricket players attend team meeting ahead of a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Mark Chapman, center, and teammates attend a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam arrives to attend a practice session in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Body

Israeli officials sound increasingly concerned that the International Criminal Court could issue arrest warrants for the country’s leaders more than six months into the Israel-Hamas war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has written in general terms about ICC action against Israeli troops and officials, and Israel’s foreign ministry has said it is also tracking reports of pending action.

The ICC was established in 2002 as the permanent court of last resort to prosecute individuals responsible for the world’s most heinous atrocities – war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.

The Rome Statute creating the ICC was adopted in 1998 and entered into force when it got 60 ratifications on July 1, 2002. The U.N. General Assembly endorsed the ICC, but the court is independent.

Without a police force, the ICC relies on member states to arrest suspects, which has proven to be a major obstacle to prosecutions.

Netanyahu said Friday on the social platform X that Israel “will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense.”

“While the ICC will not affect Israel’s actions, it would set a dangerous precedent,” he wrote.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said late Sunday that it had informed missions abroad of “ rumors ” that the court could order the arrest of senior Israeli political and military officials. The ministry did not give a source for the rumors.

In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, the court’s prosecution office declined to comment in detail.

The ICC’s 124 member states have signed on to the Rome Statute. Dozens of countries did not sign and do not accept the court’s jurisdiction over war crimes, genocide and other crimes. They include Israel, the United States, Russia and China.

The ICC becomes involved when nations are unable or unwilling to prosecute crimes on their territory. Israel argues that it has a functioning court system, and disputes over a nation’s ability or willingness to prosecute have fueled past disputes between the court and individual countries.

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump slapped economic and travel sanctions on the ICC prosecutor and another senior prosecution office staffer. The ICC staff were looking into U.S. and allies’ troops and intelligence officials for possible war crimes in Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden, whose administration has provided crucial military and political support for the Gaza offensive, lifted the sanctions in 2021.

The ICC has 17 ongoing investigations, has issued a total of 42 arrest warrants and taken 21 suspects into custody. Its judges have convicted 10 suspects and acquitted four.

In its early years, the court was criticized for focusing on crimes in Africa — 10 of its investigations are in African nations — but now it has investigations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

The U.N. General Assembly raised the Palestinians’ status in 2012 from a U.N. observer to a non-member observer state. That opened the door for the Palestinian territories to join international organizations including the ICC.

The ICC accepted “The State of Palestine” as a member in 2015, a year after the Palestinians accepted the court’s jurisdiction.

The court’s chief prosecutor at the time announced in 2021 that she was opening an investigation into possible crimes on Palestinian territory. Israel often levies accusations of bias at U.N. and international bodies, and Netanyahu slammed the decision as hypocritical and antisemitic.

Current ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan visited Ramallah and Israel in December, meeting Palestinian officials and families of Israelis killed or taken hostage by Hamas militants in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Israel-Hamas war.

Khan called Hamas’ actions “some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, crimes which the ICC was established to address,” and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Khan said “international humanitarian law must still apply” in the Israel-Hamas war and “the Israeli military knows the law that must be applied.” After the visit, Khan said an ICC investigation into possible crimes by Hamas militants and Israeli forces “is a priority for my office.”

A year ago after the court issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Russia responded by issuing its own arrest warrants for Khan and ICC judges.

Other high-profile leaders charged by the court include ousted Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir on allegations including genocide in his country’s Darfur region. Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was captured and killed by rebels shortly after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest on charges linked to the brutal suppression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Follow AP's coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

FILE - Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi delivers his speech during a meeting with hundreds of prominent Italian women in a concert hall, June 12, 2009, in Rome. The former Libyan leader was captured and killed by rebels shortly after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest on charges linked to the brutal suppression of anti-government protests in 2011. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

FILE - Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir attends a ceremony for Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the Presidential Palace, July 9, 2018, in Ankara, Turkey. Ousted Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir was charged by the International Criminal Court on allegations including genocide in his country's Darfur region. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)

FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the annual congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 25, 2024. A year ago after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin on charges of responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Russia responded by issuing its own arrest warrants for ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and ICC judges. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting at the Kirya military base, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Defense, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 24, 2023. Israeli officials sound increasingly concerned that the International Criminal Court could issue arrest warrants for the country's leaders more than six months into the Israel-Hamas war. Netanyahu said on the social platform X Friday, April 26, 2024, that Israel "will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense." (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, Pool, File)

FILE - Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Israeli officials sound increasingly concerned that the International Criminal Court could issue arrest warrants for the country's leaders more than six months into the Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)