The Blackcaps don't expect any extra edge to their T20 World Cup opening clash with Pakistan - at least, from them.
New Zealand withdrew from their limited-overs tour of the subcontinent country last month, after a ‘credible threat’ was alerted before the first one-day international at Rawalpindi.
In the fallout, Pakistan cricket chairman Ramiz Raja claimed the team would seek their "vengeance" on the park, when they played the Blackcaps on October 26 at Sharjah.
But NZ coach Gary Stead says his team will carry out business as usual, with their focus on progressing from a tough Super 12 group.
"What happened over there was sad for Pakistan Cricket and their players," says Stead from Dubai. "But it was also sad for our players, who missed out on that opportunity to play as well.
"We can't change what happened. All we can do is prepare the best we can for this tournament and that starts with Pakistan first up.
"I'm sure it will be an exciting game - we always have exciting games against Pakistan and I'm sure this will be no different."
The Blackcaps have been drawn alongside Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and two qualifiers from a tournament that includes Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The prospect of facing five subcontinent teams, in their own conditions is daunting, but with 10 players contesting the Indian Premier League, Stead hopes New Zealand will hit the ground running.
"It's somewhat of an advantage,” he says. "Hopefully, the training those guys get opens their eyes up to what the conditions are likely to be and that gives us an advantage over not training here at all.
"It's good to be in that position of having guys on the ground and getting time on their legs, before we start the tournament."
The UAE wickets will likely produce low-scoring affairs, but Stead says the team will be prepared for anything.
The IPL uses the same grounds and the Blackcaps coach has noticed more than a few "rogue" results that suggest high run scoring may come into play.
"There are three very different surfaces by the looks," says Stead. "Even as the IPL progresses, we are seeing a few rogue scores dropped in.
“There was a high-scoring game at Abu Dhabi, where 190 got chased down, but the norm appears to be the 120-150 par-score surfaces.
"The three grounds will provide the different options for us and we will call on the knowledge of our guys from the IPL on what they can add to our intel for each game."
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