Malik Waqar
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, addressing a post-match press conference, acknowledged that it wasn’t impossible to beat New Zealand on Saturday after early wickets had fallen, but Glenn Philips took the game away with a dazzling hundred.
Pakistan suffered a 78-run loss to New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Rizwan highlighted that the pitch looked challenging when Pakistan was bowling, but praised Glenn Phillips for his outstanding batting performance.
“When we were bowling, the wicket looked a bit difficult. But the way Phillips batted was outstanding,” he said.
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Rizwan emphasized the importance of focusing on areas of improvement, especially fielding.
“When we focus on what we need to improve on, we need to work on our fielding,” Rizwan pointed out, underlining that good fielding could have made a difference in the game.
Regarding the team’s all-rounders, Rizwan mentioned that expectations need to be balanced.
“If we play an all-rounder, we can’t expect him to bowl ten overs. He can give us 5-6 overs,” Rizwan explained, signaling the need for more realistic roles for the all-rounders in the team.
On the injury scare of pacer Haris Rauf, Rizwan provided a hopeful update.
“There’s no confirmation yet but it’s not a serious injury,” he said, offering relief to the team and fans. Finally, Rizwan spoke about the need for better partnerships with the bat.
“As a batting unit, we need to analyze the situation and bat accordingly. We need to stitch good partnerships when wickets are falling,” Rizwan concluded, emphasizing the need for resilience and teamwork to turn the tide in future matches.
Glenn Phillips’ century (106*) and Mitchell Santner’s 3/41 powered New Zealand to a 78-run win over Pakistan in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
New Zealand will face South Africa in the second match of the tri-nation series at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.
Fakhar reflects on loss against New Zealand
Pakistan’s opener Fakhar Zaman expressed his disappointment after the team’s 78-run loss to New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series. However, he made it clear that he was not concerned about missing out on a century.
“I am disappointed with the loss, but I am not worried about not scoring a century,” Fakhar said in the post-match press conference.
Fakhar also expressed his gratitude for the warm reception he received from the team and the fans after his return to the squad. “I was out of the team for a while, and I am thankful for the love and support I received from everyone upon my return,” he said.
Reflecting on the game, Fakhar shared his thoughts on watching the match from the dressing room at Gaddafi Stadium.
“It was enjoyable to watch the match from the dressing room at Gaddafi Stadium,” he added, highlighting the unique experience.
He also acknowledged the impact of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson’s innings, which helped guide the visitors to a competitive total.
“Kane Williamson played a good innings and took the match forward in a way that later benefited the Kiwi team,” Fakhar explained.
Fakhar assured fans that while Pakistan is excited about the upcoming Champions Trophy, the team’s focus is on the current series.
“We are definitely excited about the Champions Trophy, but our focus right now is on this series,” he said.
When asked about Babar Azam’s form, Fakhar expressed confidence in his teammate’s ability.
“Babar Azam has a class of his own. You will see that he will perform,” Fakhar added, backing Pakistan’s star batter to shine in the upcoming matches.
