Pakistan fast bowling legend Wasim Akram reckons the national team will find things difficult on their tour of New Zealand due to limited pre-series training. 

In an interview for Dawn News program ‘Replay’, Wasim said the Black Caps will be favourites in both the T20Is and the Tests, not just because of home conditions but also the lack of practice that the visitors will have.

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"Surely it was very tough for the Pakistan cricket team — both mentally and physically — to remain in rooms for 14 days and that too without much-needed training in different conditions like New Zealand,” said Wasim.

"In the current scenario, I think it will be really tough for Pakistan to beat Kane Willamson’s side on their own soil. They [New Zealand] also have a great record and recent form at home and we all saw how they (have) dominated the West Indies."

The Pakistan team had to go through their entire 14-day quarantine period in hotel rooms, having lost the training exemption from New Zealand health authorities after breaking the COVID-19 protocols and giving as many as 8 positive tests for the contagious virus. 

On Tuesday (December 8), all but one member of the 53-men touring contingent was finally allowed to move out freely and get on with their preparations. But the extended isolation has already eaten a significant period before the series beginning next Friday (December 18) with the first of three T20Is. 

Wasim said Pakistan currently boast of a promising bunch of quicks but they need more experience at the first-class level in order to fully unlock that potential. 

"We witnessed in the England Test series that our fast bowlers lack experience," he said.

"Young Shaheen Shah, Naseem Shah, Musa Khan and others are talented but they are not fully adept at performing on international level. They can only get better with more match experience and long spells in domestic games."