Near whitewash

Express Tribune

27-03-2025

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Lost by 9 wickets (with 59 balls remaining); lost by 5 wickets (with 11 balls remaining); won by 9 wickets (with 24 balls remaining); lost by 115 runs; and lost by 8 wickets (with 60 balls remaining). This is how a new-look Pakistan under a new skipper, Salman Ali Agha, fared in the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand in New Zealand.
Team Pakistan lost the series 4-1 — a near whitewash. But what rubs salt into the wound is that all the four games that the Green Shirts lost were one-sided affairs. New Zealand's victory margin in all four games and the number of balls remaining are enough to prove the visitors' helplessness.
The only consolation came in the third game when newcomer Hasan Nawaz smashed a 44-ball hundred, the fastest by any Pakistani player in a T20 international. Instantly labelled as the 'next big thing', the 23-year-old, however, also clinched an unwanted record — most ducks (three) by a Pakistani opener in a T20I series. Nawaz's score line of 0, 0, 105, 1 and 0 reflects the typical inconsistency that our players, and the team, are notorious for.
The coaching staff and computer analysts should look for what is lacking in the technique of this exciting new talent, and then work on the weaknesses. Skipper Salman Ali Agha, with two 50s and a score in the 40s, also showed much promise. Return of Saim Ayub, who was out of the team due to injury, will help Pakistan think tank to come up with a good batting combination featuring budding stars.
Senior players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan (who made a comeback to the T20 squad, and that too as vice-captain) remained a disappointment. It's enigmatic to see such world class players failing to make a difference with their presence in the team.
With Team Pakistan now going into the three-match ODI series from March 29 to April 5 one can only hope that the outcome is not as bad.