Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan stated that his side did not expect New Zealand to score 320 runs in the first innings, having gotten off to a solid start, and poor execution in the death overs resulted in their 60-run loss in their opening game of the 2025 Champions Trophy being played at the National Bank Stadium. Despite losing two early wickets, New Zealand showed resilience and tactical acumen. Their top order, led by Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (118*), took the fight to the hosts. Following Young’s dismissal, Glenn Phillips proved to be the game changer as he accelerated the Kiwis run-rate at a strike rate of 156.41, in an innings laced with three boundaries and four sixes, on his way to scoring 61 runs in 39 deliveries.

“I think they made a very good target, we didn’t expect they would get 320. We thought around 260 when we took early wickets. The Will Young-Latham partnership was crucial. We tried, but they played very smartly and that’s why they got to that total. The pitch was not easy to bat early on, but Will Young and Latham’s innings were crucial. Our execution in the end overs was not good, and that’s why they made that score,” said Rizwan in the post-match presentation.

Pakistan’s chase however failed to live up to the hype of the home crowd, having gotten the opportunity to watch a major ICC tournament game in the country for the first time since 1996.

After Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan’s early dismissals, the home ground witnessed a lacklustre innings from Babar Azam as he inched his way to a total of 64 on the night, in 90 balls, leaving the hosts in a difficult position.

This defeat leaves Pakistan in a precarious position ahead of their high-stakes encounter against arch-rivals India. The defending champions will need to address their batting concerns quickly, particularly their lack of intent and inability to build momentum early in the innings. With Bangladesh also in their group, the road to the semi-finals has become significantly tougher, and any further slip-ups could prove costly.

Rizwan said his team will not be taking any added pressure for the crucial tie vs India and will treat it as a normal game.

“We lost momentum twice, first in the death overs and then in the powerplay with the bat. Losing Fakhar Zaman [as opener] was crucial. We didn’t want to put pressure on ourselves by thinking we are defending champions. This match is gone, and the next match is another normal match for us,” he added.

Picture from South Africa vs Pakistan second T20I.© AFP

Kamran Ghulam struck a maiden one-day international century as Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 99 runs in Bulawayo on Thursday to seal a 2-1 series victory. His 103 helped Pakistan reach 303-6 in 50 overs at Queens Sports Club — a total Zimbabwe never look like bettering and the hosts were all out for 204 in 40.1 overs. It was Pakistan’s 56th victory in 65 ODIs against Zimbabwe. After losing a rain-shortened first match in the southern city by 80 runs last Sunday, the tourists bounced back to wallop the home team by 10 wickets two days later.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan said: “I am proud because we lost the first game and expectations from the country were high.

“We came back to win the series and that has given us confidence. Away matches are always difficult, always different from home.”

Pakistan won the toss, opted to bat and after the loss of opener Saim Ayub with 58 on the scoreboard, Ghulam took centre stage.

Initially cautious, the No. 3 batter gradually accelerated the run rate and put on 54 for the second wicket with opener Abdullah Shafique.

Having posted a half century, Shafique fluffed an attempted sweep and was trapped leg before by Pakistan-born all-rounder Sikandar Raza. His 68-ball knock included a six and five fours.

– Torment -Ghulam continued to torment the Zimbabwe bowlers with various partners, striking four sixes and 10 fours off 99 deliveries before becoming the fourth Pakistani wicket to fall, caught at deep cover by Clive Madande off Richard Ngarava.

Raza and Ngarava took two wickets each for Zimbabwe, but at a heavy cost, conceding 102 runs between them. The last five overs were particularly expensive as Pakistan added 69.

Zimbabwe began disastrously in response to the formidable Pakistan total with opener Joylord Gumbie and Dion Myers out and just 10 runs on the board.

Veteran captain Craig Ervine made 51 in a 63-ball stand that included six boundaries, one a six before dragging an Aamer Jamal bouncer on to the leg stump.

Raza, often the Zimbabwe saviour, was also fell to Jamal for 16, caught at deep square leg after mistiming a short delivery from the fast medium pacer.

Zimbabwe and Pakistan begin a three-match Twenty20 international series in Bulawayo on Sunday. The tourists then head to South Africa for an eight-match all-formats tour, including two Tests.

After Pakistan’s 13-run defeat to Australia in the second T20I in Sydney on Saturday, captain Mohammad Rizwan emphasised the impact of missed opportunities on the field. Speaking after the match, Rizwan praised his bowlers but acknowledged the critical mistakes that cost his team the game. “The bowlers bowled really well. But if you drop crucial catches, it will cost you the game,” Rizwan stated, underlining the significance of fielding in tight contests.

“We all know the pitch wasn’t easy to bat on. Catches were crucial,” he added.

Rizwan lauded Haris Rauf for his exceptional performance, as the bowler returned impressive figures of 4/22.

“Haris loves Australia because of the pace and bounce,” Rizwan remarked, noting Rauf’s effectiveness in Australian conditions.

Looking ahead to the series decider, Rizwan remained non-committal about potential team changes.

“Not sure about the changes for the third game. We will see what the situation demands,” he concluded.

Pakistan will aim to recover and address their fielding lapses as they prepare for the final T20I against Australia in Hobart.

In the match, Australia, after winning the toss, got off to a flying start with openers Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk forging a fifty-run partnership in just 3.1 overs. Fraser-McGurk was the first to fall, dismissed by Haris Rauf for 20. Skipper Josh Inglis followed soon after for a duck, also falling to Rauf. Short, who scored 32, was bowled by Abbas Afridi, leaving Australia at 56/3 within six overs.

Marcus Stoinis added 14 before being dismissed by Sufiyan Muqeem, while Glenn Maxwell managed 21 off 20 balls before falling to Muqeem as well. Tim David contributed 18 off 19 balls, including two boundaries, but became Rauf’s third victim. Xavier Bartlett was dismissed for 5, also by Rauf, who finished with outstanding figures of 4/22, the best T20I bowling figures against Australia on Australian soil. Aaron Hardie made a crucial 28 off 23 deliveries before being caught behind off Abbas Afridi. Spencer Johnson was the last wicket to fall, dismissed for a golden duck by Abbas, who ended with 3/17. Australia’s innings concluded at 147 all out.

In reply, Pakistan’s chase got off to a poor start. Star batter Babar Azam managed only 3 before being dismissed by Xavier Bartlett. Sahibzada Farhan followed, falling to Johnson for 5. Johnson then removed captain Mohammad Rizwan, who struggled to 16 off 26 balls. Salman Agha was dismissed for a golden duck by Johnson, leaving Pakistan reeling at 44/4 in 9.3 overs.

Pakistan reached 50 in 10.2 overs and 100 in 14.5 overs, but the middle-order collapse continued. Usman Khan and Irfan Khan offered some resistance with a fifty-run partnership. However, Usman was eventually dismissed by Johnson for a well-made 52 off 38 balls, including four boundaries and one six. Johnson claimed his fifth wicket by dismissing Abbas Ali for 4.

Adam Zampa further dented Pakistan’s chase by dismissing Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, both for ducks. Sufiyan Muqeem was run out without scoring, and Haris Rauf was dismissed for 2 following a sharp throw from Tim David. Pakistan needed 16 runs in the final over but fell short, being bowled out for 134.

Apart from Johnson’s stellar performance, Bartlett chipped in with a wicket, while Zampa impressed with figures of 2/19 in his four overs. Johnson’s five-wicket haul earned him the Player of the Match award.

Australia, now leading the series 2-0, will aim for a clean sweep as they head to Hobart for the final T20I.

File image of Pakistan Cricket Team.© AFP

Pakistan’s newly appointed white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan on Sunday said that he is here to “serve the 15 men” of the team and not to act like a “king”. Ahead of Pakistan’s limited-overs tours of Australia and Zimbabwe next month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced star wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan as their new skipper with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain. Rizwan has replaced Babar Azam. Speaking at the press conference in Lahore, Rizwan said that his side will try their best to show that “there’s no lack of fight” in the team.

“If I start considering myself a king as captain, then everything will fall apart. Rather, as a leader, I am here to serve the 15 men of the team. This is how it should be. Regarding achievements, we have messages and support from everyone in our box, who are asking us only one thing: fight, fight, and fight. They keep sending us this message again and again, and we will try our best, to show the whole nation that there is no lack of fight in us,” Rizwan said.

Rizwan further talked about his responsibilities as the skipper of the side and said that his role would be to carry out tasks, attend presentations, and handle conferences.

“Look, as far as these rumours are concerned, they may have been heard from somewhere, but if I am part of a group, it’s the Pakistan team’s group–our whole group. Now that I am captain, for me, the most important thing is that all fifteen players of Pakistan are captains in their own way. My role as captain is to carry out tasks, attend presentations, and handle conferences. I’m doing these things, and, all of our Pakistan team members are also captains in their own right because, as you can see, everyone is leading in one way or another,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan announced 15-member squads for white-ball series tours to Australia and Zimbabwe starting from November 4 onwards, with star batter Babar Azam being rested from the Zimbabwe tour.

Mohammad Rizwan will be available for both Australia matches and the Zimbabwe ODIs but will not participate in the T20Is.

Pakistan will also have three debutants in their midst – Kamran Ghulam, Omair Bin Yousuf and Sufyan Moqim, while Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Saim Ayub have joined the ODI squad for the first time.

ODI squad for Australia: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

T20I squad for Australia: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan.

ODI squad for Zimbabwe: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir.

T20I squad for Zimbabwe: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.

Match 36 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024 has Pakistan taking on Ireland at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida on 16th June 2024 at 08:00 PM IST.

Tournament Standings

Pakistan: Played three matches, currently ranked third on the points table.

Ireland: Played two matches, currently in fifth place on the points table.

Last Encounters

The two teams last faced each other in the 3rd T20I of the Pakistan in Ireland series in 2024. In that match, Babar Azam led Pakistan with 117 fantasy points, while Lorcan Tucker was Ireland’s standout player with 106 fantasy points.

Recent Performance

Pakistan: Defeated Canada by seven wickets in their last match. Mohammad Rizwan was the top fantasy player with 85 points.

Ireland: Lost to Canada by 12 runs in their last match. Mark Adair was Ireland’s top fantasy performer with 76 points.

Key Players to Watch

Pakistan

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi has two wickets in his last two matches. Afridi’s left-arm pace makes him a consistent wicket-taker, and he will be a valuable weapon for Pakistan in this match.

Babar Azam

Babar Azam has scored 90 runs in his last three outings, at an average of 30. Babar’s steadiness in the top order makes him an invaluable asset, both as captain and as a vital run-scorer.

Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan is a top wicketkeeper batter. Rizwan has scored 93 runs in the current World Cup at an average of 46.5. Rizwan’s versatility as a top-order hitter and wicketkeeper makes him a well-rounded choice for Pakistan. His contribution in terms of runs and dismissals is significant.

Ireland

Mark Richard Adair

Mark Richard Adair is one of Ireland’s top bowling all-rounders. He has taken two wickets and scored 37 runs in this World Cup and will be hungry to contribute more against Pakistan.

Gareth James Delany

Gareth James Delany has scored 29 runs and taken one wicket in his past two matches. Delany, known for his leg-break googly, has already demonstrated consistency and success against Pakistan, making him a strategic choice.

Curtis Campher

Curtis Campher has scored only 16 runs in this World Cup. Although Campher’s recent batting form is shaky, he was extremely economical in the last two matches. This is a great opportunity for him to showcase his talent on the biggest stage of world cricket.

Picture from PAK vs NZ 2nd T20I.© AFP