ISLAMABAD: Pakistan required an impactful performance to check the winning spree of New Zealand and to avoid a series defeat as the guest side is facing the Black Caps in the 3rd T20 International in Dunedin tomorrow after receiving defeat in the first two encounters of the 5 T20 series.
Despite having a number of T20I specialists, including the young and talented Saim Ayub, aggressive Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmad, Azam Khan and T20 Specialist Muhammad Rizwan, and reliable Babar Azam, the team is still unable to click.
In both of the games, the Pakistani top order, including Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and Fakhar Zaman, dominated the Kiwis, but due to the collapse of the middle order, the sides didn’t manage to finish.
The third encounter is also important for Pakistan to save the series, as the Kiwis required just one win to clinch the series. It is also expected the team might come to the field with some major changes on Wednesday.
It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan is playing in the T20 format for the first team under the leadership of Shaheen Afridi as captain and Muhammad Rizwan as Voice Captain after the batting maestro Babar Azam stepped down as leader of the team amid a humiliating defeat in the ODI World Cup last October.
Pakistan’s Playing Eleven for Third T20
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB announced the playing XI for the 3rd T20I against the Kiwis with some changes. According to a statement, the PCB mentioned that Usama Mir, Aamer Jamal, and Abbas Afrid would not be part of the 3rd T20I while Muhammad Wasim Junior, Muhammad Nawaz, and Zaman Khan would be inducted in the playing XI against the home side.
It is worth mentioning here that Muhammad Abbas received a minor injury. However, it is yet to be decided whether he will be fit for the next game or not. The Black Caps are dominating the series with a 2-0 margin, including a 21 run victory in the second match last Sunday. Pakistan lost the first game by 46 runs.
Pakistan’s Squad
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Muhammad Rizwan (vice-captain), Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Muhammad Wasim Junior, Muhammad Nawaz, and Zaman Khan.
