Chapman gave a positive update on captain Santner, who missed the previous match against Canada due to illness. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMitch 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. Obviously, Lockie (Ferguson on parental leave) has left us.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d Chapman said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having faced Pakistan frequently over the past year, Chapman feels New Zealand have a strong understanding of the challenges that await, particularly against a spin-heavy attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cObviously, 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Tariq\u2019s unusual action adds an extra dimension, Chapman emphasised that New Zealand are preparing for the collective challenge rather than focusing on one bowler. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo, 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Since August 2024, the two sides have met 20 times across ODIs and T20Is, building an intense rivalry and detailed knowledge of each other\u2019s strengths. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, Chapman acknowledged that familiarity does not eliminate the need to adapt \u2014 especially with conditions in Colombo expected to differ significantly from those encountered earlier in the tournament in India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI mean, 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Sri Lankan surfaces traditionally offering more assistance to spin, Chapman underlined the importance of reading conditions carefully before committing to a fixed approach. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
There is also a logistical advantage for New Zealand in the Super 8 stage. Unlike several teams travelling between venues, the Black Caps will play all three of their matches in Colombo \u2014 a factor Chapman believes could be beneficial.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Sri Lankan surfaces traditionally offering more assistance to spin, Chapman underlined the importance of reading conditions carefully before committing to a fixed approach. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think for us, 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,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n