Saim Ayub shines before New Zealand overpower Pakistan in first T20
Shaheen Afridi's debut as Pakistan's T20 captain did not go according to plan, as New Zealand triumphed by 46 runs in a high-scoring T20 series opener in Auckland on Friday.
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Tim Southee Hits Milestone As New Zealand Beat Pakistan In First T20I
Tim Southee became the first player to 150 wickets in Twenty20 internationals as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs Friday in their series opener in Auckland. Veteran seam bowler Southee claimed four wickets to pass the milestone and help dismiss the tourists for 180 in the 18th over in response to New Zealand's imposing 226-8, handing them first blood in the five-match series. Southee's figures of 4-25 were the best of a run-dominated encounter at Eden Park and took him to 151 wickets in T20 internationals, 11 more than Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan.
"Pakistan Fielding" Memes Flood Social Media, Thanks To Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed's Dropped Chances
Putting the horror show in Australia behind them, Pakistan reached New Zealand with the hopes of redeeming themselves in the 5-match T20I series. As Shaheen Afridi and his team looked to pile pressure with the ball, the fielders, including former skipper Babar Azam helped little in the fielding, dropping chance after chance. First, it was Babar who dropped an easy catch involving New Zealand's Kane Williamson, later it was Iftikhar Ahmed who gave the dangerous Daryl Mitchell a lifeline.
Watch: Babar Azam Misses Another Simple Catch, Gets Roasted On Social Media
Pakistan cricket team's fielding performances have come under a lot of criticism in the recent past. During the recently concluded Test series against Australia, there were several missed catches and fielding errors that left the fans frustrated. Pakistan fans were left disappointed once again when Babar Azam missed an extremely easy catch during the first T20I encounter against New Zealand in Auckland on Friday. Williamson miscued a shot off the bowling of Abbas Afridi and the ball went straight towards Babar at mid-on. it should have been an easy catch but Babar misjudged it completely and ended up wasting a simple chance. Social media was not happy and fans started roasting him for the missed opportunity.
New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I Live Score: Shaheen Wins Toss, Opts To Bowl
New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20I Live Score And Updates:Shaheen Afridi takes charge as Pakistan's full-time skipper, taking over the reins from Babar Azam, as the sub-continent giants look to put the Australia heartbreak behind them in the T20I series against another team from Down Under, New Zealand. Shaheen's elevation as the team's captain isn't the only change that Pakistan have brought in, with some fresh faces also expected to be seen, while new combinations at the top of the batting-order are also likely to be deployed. The Kiwis, on the other hand, will miss Mitchell Santner for the match as he has been tested positive for Covid-19. Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi won the toss and opted to field first. (LIVE Scorecard)
Captain Shaheen Afridi Set To Demote Opener Babar Azam For New Zealand T20Is: Report
Pakistan are expected to go for a new opening pair in the T20 series in New Zealand with Muhammad Rizwan to partner young Saim Ayub instead of Babar Azam. According to reports from Auckland, the team management had Rizwan and Saim batting in the nets against the new ball bowlers while Babar and Fakhar Zaman had their knocks against mainly spinners in the other nets. Babar and Rizwan have opened pretty successfully for Pakistan in the T20 format since 2021 but apparently new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, new high performance coach Yasir Arafat and the team director Muhammad Hafeez are keen to try out something new against New Zealand in the five-match series beginning on January 12.
Watch: Babar Azam's Powerful Shot Strikes Pakistan Bowling Coach Saeed Ajmal. This Happens next
Babar Azam is currently struggling with a lean patch. After a rather quiet ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, where he could not leave a big mark, Babar Azam resigned from the captaincy of the Pakistan cricket team. Shan Massod took over the Test captaincy while Shaheen Afridi took over the T20I captaincy. After the Cricket World Cup, Pakistan's first assignment was a three-Test series against Australia which it lost 3-0. Babar Azam did not have a good Tour in Australia too as he could go past the 40-mark only once in six innings.
"Will Win Battle Against Me...": R Ashwin Concedes He Wouldn't Be Able To Tackle This Pakistan Star
Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest active players currently. With 490 wickets in 95 Test matches, the second-highest wicket-taker among active spinners after Nathan Lyon (509 wickets). However, with India facing England in a five-match series starting later this month, Ashwin has a good chance to surpass Lyon. He needs only 10 more wickets to be the second Indian after the great Anil Kumble to take 500 or more Test wickets. He is currently enjoying a break before the Test series against England.