Pakistan suffered yet another loss to New Zealand in the ongoing five-match T20I series as Kiwis now lead the series 4-0. Pakistan have not secured a win in any of the seven matches it has played in 2024. Riding on a splendid yet unbeaten 90 off 63 balls, Mohammad Rizwan was the standout player for Pakistan in the fourth T20I against New Zealand which Men in Greens lost by seven wickets on January 19. Rizwan openly criticised the performance of the fast bowlers in the series, taking a dig at team's bowling coach Umar Gul, in light of Pakistan's disappointing defeat against New Zealand.
In the fourth T20I, batting first, Pakistan set a total of 158/5, thanks to Rizwan's exceptional batting, who scored over half the team's runs. His innings included six fours and two sixes. Mohammad Nawaz also played a crucial role, hitting 21 off just nine balls, pushing the team's score beyond 150.
New Zealand, however, faced early challenges as Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed three quick wickets, leaving them at a precarious 20/3. But the tide turned with Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell forming a formidable partnership, remaining unbeaten in their 139-run stand for the fourth wicket. Post-match, Rizwan expressed his concerns about the fast bowlers' underperformance, posing a significant question for Umar Gul, Pakistan's bowling coach.
“Our Bowlers are not getting wickets and this is a big question mark. Ask Umar Gul to tell you. Shaheen Afridi took wickets in the powerplay but again got no wickets in the middle overs. That is why you guys think that our fast bowling is being exposed,” Rizwan said.
Notably, besides Shaheen Shah Afridi, no Pakistani bowlers bagged a wicket in the fourth T20I.
In the current series against New Zealand, Mohammad Rizwan holds the position of vice-captain for the Pakistan team. Despite his steady performance, the team, unfortunately, has not secured a win. Under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan has yet to achieve a victory in this series. With New Zealand having secured the series and only one match remaining, Pakistan faces the prospect of a complete series defeat. Previously, Pakistan suffered a series loss to Australia in a three-match Test series and hasn't won a single match since their victory over New Zealand in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. In this difficult phase, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been the sole consistent performers for Pakistan, although Babar Azam struggled to make an impact in the Test series against Australia. This challenging period marks a turbulent start to a new chapter in Pakistan cricket, placing significant pressure on the team to improve their performance and achieve some victories.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Big resignations shake up Pakistan Cricket ahead of 4th T20I against New Zealand
Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar? R Ashwin announces 'greatest batter to ever grace the game'
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma receive invitation for 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya
Hardik Pandya or Shivam Dube or both? India's World Cup winner answers burning question of which all-rounder should be part of India's T20 WC squad
