Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan attributed his team's 78-run defeat to New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series to Glenn Phillips’ stellar batting and the national side’s subpar fielding and batting performance.

Speaking to the media following the match at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, Rizwan acknowledged that at one stage, it seemed unlikely for Pakistan to lose, but admitted that the team fell short in key areas.

“When we were bowling, the pitch appeared to be challenging. However, Phillips batted brilliantly and put New Zealand in a stable position,” he said.

The wicketkeeper-batsman stressed the need to improve fielding, which he identified as a crucial factor in the outcome of the match. “We need to focus on areas that require improvement, and fielding is one of them,” he remarked.

Rizwan also highlighted the role of all-rounders, stating that expecting them to bowl a full quota of 10 overs was unrealistic. “An all-rounder can give his best in 5-6 overs, and we need to set our expectations accordingly,” he added.

The Pakistan skipper played down concerns over Haris Rauf’s injury, assuring that the pacer’s condition was not serious. “Haris is an important player for us, and hopefully, he will recover soon,” he stated.

Reflecting on Pakistan’s batting struggles, Rizwan stressed the need to build solid partnerships. “When wickets are falling, we must ensure that we form partnerships to stabilise the innings,” he said.

Pakistan will now turn their attention to their next fixture, while New Zealand will face South Africa in the second match of the tri-nation series at the same venue on Monday.