Sharjah24 - AFP: After New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Thursday, the first Twenty20 international was delayed due to heavy rain.

The rain forced umpires Ahsan Raza and Aleem Dar to send the Pakistan players back to the dressing rooms as soon as they had taken the field and the match was about to start.

New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell won the toss, which had also been delayed by 30 minutes.

The intermittent rain also delayed fast bowler Mohammad Amir's return to international cricket after nearly four years, having come out of retirement last month.

Pakistan have handed T20I caps to batter Usman Khan, spinner Abrar Ahmed and allrounder Muhammad Irfan Khan, while batter Tim Robinson will debut for New Zealand.

The remaining matches are in Rawalpindi on April 20 and 21 and in Lahore on April 25 and 27.