Following Pakistan’s disappointing 3-0 whitewash loss in the ODI series against New Zealand, captain Mohammad Rizwan has called on the team and fans to put the recent setback behind them and shift focus to the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10.
In a candid post-match conference, Rizwan expressed his disappointment with the series outcome, acknowledging New Zealand’s dominance across all departments.
Despite Pakistan's efforts, including Babar Azam's two half-centuries in the series, the hosts were too strong, winning the crucial moments.
Rizwan stated, "A disappointing series for us. Babar played well, scoring two fifties in this series. I give credit to New Zealand in all three departments. It’s difficult conditions for us here, but they played well in Asian conditions as well. If you lose, you can’t say much like that. NZ won the key moments."
Looking ahead, Rizwan emphasized the importance of moving on from the series and focusing on the upcoming PSL. "After the Champions Trophy and this series, we’ll leave the past behind. PSL is a big tournament for us, and hopefully, we’ll give the people something to cheer about," he added.
The third ODI saw Pakistan chase a target of 265 in a rain-affected 42-over match. The team was dealt an early blow when Imam-ul-Haq was injured while running between the wickets, forcing him to retire. Usman Khan replaced Imam but was dismissed for just 12 runs.
Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam steadied the innings with a 68-run partnership, but Shafique fell for 33, and Babar, after scoring a vital half-century, was dismissed for 50.
Agha Salman and Rizwan tried to rebuild the innings, but Pakistan’s chase faltered further with the loss of both players. Rizwan was dismissed for 37, and Faheem Ashraf’s quick dismissal for just three runs further curtailed Pakistan's hopes.
In the end, the team was bowled out for 221 in 40 overs. Naseem Shah provided some resistance with a late cameo of 17 runs, but the tail quickly crumbled.
Earlier, New Zealand had struggled early in their innings but were lifted by Rhys Mariu’s 58 and captain Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 59, helping the hosts to a total of 264-8.
Despite strong bowling performances from Akif Javed, Naseem Shah, and Faheem Ashraf, New Zealand’s total proved to be too much for Pakistan, who ultimately fell short by 43 runs.
With the series now behind them, Pakistan’s attention turns to the upcoming PSL, where Rizwan and his team will look to put the disappointment of the New Zealand series behind them and focus on delivering a strong performance for their fans.
