Pakistan's opening batsman Abdullah Shafique has acknowledged the challenges of playing New Zealand on home soil and stated that the upcoming ODI series will not be easy for Pakistan.

Pakistan's top-order batsman Abdullah Shafique is focused on making a strong comeback in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on March 29.

Reflecting on his performances so far, Shafique admitted to having learned valuable lessons from previous matches. "I didn't play well in some of my recent matches, but I've learned a lot from those experiences," he admitted.

Speaking to the media before a training session at the LCC Ground on Wednesday, Shafique expressed his disappointment at the absence of young batsman Saim Ayub from the squad.

"I am grateful to Allah for my return to the team. Playing in New Zealand is always difficult for Asian teams, but I will try to give my best," Shafique said.

He thanked Babar Azam for his recognition and said it was an honor to be praised by such a distinguished cricketer. He emphasized that the Pakistani team consists of experienced players and that Babar Azam, as a mentor, boosts the team's confidence.

Shafiq, who was not in form last year's series against South Africa, spoke about the toughness of the New Zealand conditions and claimed confidence in preparation.

"The conditions in New Zealand have always posed problems for Pakistan. I will try my level best to perform well and be a help for the team," Shafiq stated. Sharing his comeback with the national side, the right-hander gave credit to domestic cricket.

"The home games have worked a lot for me. I feel fit and will try to make the most out of that in this series," he further said.

He also stressed the need for a good strike rate in limited-overs cricket, stating, "In white-ball cricket, having a good strike rate is very important."