Shaheen Afridi opens up after their third defeat against New Zealand

• Shaheen Afridi explains the reason behind the defeat.
• Pakistan lost the match by 45 runs.
• Shaheen admits Pakistan’s bowling has been poor.

The captain of the Pakistan Twenty20 international team, Shaheen Afridi, discussed his choice to bowl first in Wednesday’s third Twenty20 international match in Dunedin, New Zealand.

As New Zealand gained an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, Pakistan lost the match by 45 runs.

“This ground’s history, both in international and domestic cricket, showed us that chasing is easier here. After consultation as a team, we thought it would be better to bowl first. Unfortunately, we didn’t deliver in the powerplay as a bowling unit, and our bowling has collapsed in these three games. However, we need to give this team time if we are to think about the big events ahead,” Afridi said after the match.

In the game’s shortest format, Afridi’s first task as captain is the current series.

It should be mentioned that in the third Twenty20 International, New Zealand gave Pakistan a difficult goal of 225 runs after Finn Allen hammered 137 runs in 62 balls.

Although Babar Azam hit his third successive fifty of the series with 58 off 37 in reply, it was insufficient to get Pakistan across the finish line.

Pakistan’s pursuit was derailed by a string of wickets, as they lost four players for just 39 runs after reaching 95 for two in the eleventh over.

With two fours and as many maximums, Mohammad Nawaz amassed 28 runs in 15 balls.

In four overs, Mitchell Santner claimed one wicket at a cost of 26 runs, demonstrating his economical bowling.

In the men’s T20Is, Allen put an end to Pakistan with the highest individual score for New Zealand, beating the previous record of 123 established by Brendon McCullum. In men’s T20Is, he also scored the equal-highest number of sixes—16—in one innings.

On a miserable day with the ball for Pakistan, Rauf gave up 60 runs in his four overs, while Mohammad Nawaz gave away 44 and Shaheen Afridi 43.

“When you win then people say you’re the best player; when you lose then people say you can’t do anything. Today, Matt Henry went for 50+ runs, and he’s New Zealand’s best bowler. This happens sometimes in T20 cricket on such small grounds. We do think that we didn’t bowl well collectively. Haris was hit for runs on good balls too, but he’s our best bowler and has the most wickets for Pakistan (as a pacer),” Shaheen said on Rauf’s performance.

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