New Zealand bat in first Pakistan Test

Abu Dhabi - Fit-again New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat in the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Williamson missed the last one-day international in Dubai on Sunday with a groin injury.

New Zealand handed a Test debut to 30-year-old left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, leaving out paceman Tim Southee.

Pakistan's opener Imam-ul-Haq returned to the side after missing the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi with a finger injury.

The second Test is in Dubai from November 24-28 and the third in Abu Dhabi from December 3-7.

Teams:

Pakistan

Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hassan Ali

New Zealand

Kane Williamson (captain), Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Latham, BJ Watling, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Jeet Raval, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG)

Tv umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS)

Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)