Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, remains optimistic despite his team’s 73-run defeat in the first ODI against New Zealand at McLean Park, Napier. While acknowledging the challenges faced, he believes Pakistan can bounce back in the remaining matches.
Momentum Shift Led to Defeat
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rizwan reflected on Pakistan’s strong start and where things went wrong.
“We began the chase with intent and followed our plans well. At one point, we were in control, but as pressure mounted, we lost momentum during three to four crucial overs. That shift changed the game,” Rizwan explained.
Bowlers Made an Impact
Despite the loss, Rizwan credited his bowlers for adapting well to New Zealand’s conditions and providing early breakthroughs.
“Our pacers did an excellent job up front. They read the pitch well and executed their plans effectively. The decision to bowl first was correct, but Mark Chapman’s outstanding innings took the game away from us. We need to be sharper in capitalizing on key moments,” he added.
Read: New Zealand Crush Pakistan by Eight Wickets in Final T20I
Learning Experience for Young Players
Rizwan also highlighted the importance of experience gained by the three debutants who played in the match.
“Playing in New Zealand is never easy, especially for young players. Having three debutants in the squad is a great learning opportunity for them. This exposure will help them improve,” he stated.
Looking Ahead in the Series
Despite the setback, the Pakistan captain remains confident about turning things around in the upcoming ODIs.
“The result didn’t go our way, but the series is not over. We have two more games to correct our mistakes. We’ll regroup, learn from this loss, and come back stronger,” Rizwan concluded.
With two matches left in the series, Pakistan aims to bounce back, fine-tune their strategy, and make a strong comeback against New Zealand.
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