Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf, pictured in July 2009, won the toss and elected to bowl in the opening Test of the three-match series against New Zealand here Tuesday.
©AFP/File - Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AFP) - Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf won the toss and elected to bowl in the opening Test of the three-match series against New Zealand here Tuesday.

The University Oval wicket has a reputation for favouring the quick bowlers and Yousuf had no hesitation in confirming he would bowl first.

"Obviously, the first two hours here are very difficult and that's why we will bowl first," he said.

But it was a decision that did not bother New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, who did not believe the green-tinged wicket would pose serious problems.

"I think we wanted to bat on it. All the talk is it won't do as much as it's expected to and when the conditions above are good it normally plays pretty well."

Although officially a Pakistan home series, the three Tests were relocated after New Zealand refused to go to Pakistan over security fears.

It is the first time New Zealand have hosted a Test in November and rain is forecast for later in the week.

New Zealand have only won one series against Pakistan at home, back in 1985.

Teams:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Grant Elliott, Brendon McCullum, Shane Bond, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.

Pakistan: Khurram Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (RSA), Simon Taufel (AUS)

TV umpire: Billy Doctrove (WIS)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)