The Pakistan cricket team’s T20I captaincy under Shaheen Afridi did not get off to a good start as the side fell to New Zealand on Friday.
The Pakistan cricket team’s T20I captaincy under Shaheen Afridi did not get off to a good start at all. Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 46 runs on Friday. Tim Southee, who led New Zealand’s “nasty fasties” to a 46-run victory over Pakistan in their series opener in Auckland, became the first player to reach 150 wickets in Twenty20 internationals. In response to New Zealand’s formidable 226-8, veteran seam bowler Southee grabbed four wickets to surpass the milestone and assist in dismissing the tourists for 180 in the 18th over, giving them the upper hand in the five-match series.
Following the defeat, a video featuring a senior journalist criticizing the Pakistani team went viral.
“There is no togetherness on this team. When a TV commercial begins, you never realize what happens after the commercial stops. I covered the ground with the match. Nobody’s counsel is being heeded by Shaheen Afridi. They are hitting his bowlers. However, it was his debut game. He put Babar Azam on the midfield. Talk to Babar Azam, the former captain, at least; he has a ton of experience. Mohammad Rizwan was conversing with the fielders and bowlers as well. Shaheen appeared nervous, terrified, and alone. I am not familiar with this Pakistani cricket team. In an increasingly popular video, senior sports journalist Ejaz Bakhri stated, “I’m not sure if there’s a mental health issue.
After Babar Azam fell in the 17th over, he completed the job as Pakistan’s run chase collapsed. The former skipper had raced to 57 off 35 balls to keep his side in the game.
There were starts for openers Saim Ayub (27) and Mohammad Rizwan (25) but Azam struggled to get assistance from his teammates before being caught at cover by skipper Kane Williamson off Ben Sears’ bowling.
Williamson claimed that Southee’s worth during his 16-year career was immeasurable.
“Tim has been around for a long time and this is a credit to his consistent performances over a long period,” he explained.
“But he also adds so much as a leader in our environment – a calm head and it’s pretty good to have him out there with some young nasty fasties.”
The maximum total of 221-3 England achieved in Karachi in 2022 was surpassed by New Zealand’s boundary-heavy innings, which was the most Pakistan had given up in a Twenty20 match.
Williamson was dropped twice while scoring 57 off 42 balls, while Daryl Mitchell hammered 61 off 27 balls.
After opener Finn Allen (34), who was bowled by Pakistan skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, scored 24 runs in the third over, New Zealand built on his blazing start.
Pakistan’s new-look attack let up 21 fours and 11 sixes as they failed to contain the ground’s infamously short boundaries.
Abbas Afridi, a seamer, made an impressive start for his country in any format, finishing with 3-34 off four overs. However, Mitchell particularly targeted Usama Mir’s leg spin, as Mir ended with 0-51.
Following their elimination from the 50-over Cricket World Cup semifinals the previous year, Babar gave up the captaincy. Shaheen, who took 3-46, assumed the helm for the first time for Pakistan.
Shaheen stated that before Sunday’s second game in Hamilton, changes will be required.
We’re running out of time. We need to get better as a bowling unit and know when to employ our variations,” he stated.
“There were misfields in the middle overs, despite the excellent play of Mitchell and Kane Williamson. We must make those catches, and we must improve as a fielding team.
