[PICTURES] Assessing the Highs and Lows: Pakistan's Tour of New Zealand 2024

[BouncerGuy]

Another tour to New Zealand that went horribly wrong for Pakistan after losing the 5-match T20I series 4-1

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After winning the 5th T20I, Shaheen Shah Afridi in the end of the series presser:

"I would say that Abbas Afridi is a very good batter and a good fielder. He can bring stability to the team’s bowling, and he is a player who wants to give his best. Even today, if you see, he went to bat and tried for shorts. Abbas Afridi is a good prospect for Pakistan. Saim Ayub could not perform, but he is a player who has the ability to serve Pakistan well in the coming days."​

 

[Kianig89]

Positives:
Babar back in his mojo
Rizwan is still the no.1 keeper in format regardless of the format
SSA had learning curve as skipper,
Nawaz also ensured he remained in scheme of things
Abbas Afridi is a good find
Zaman Khan and WasimJr a breath of fresh air given the issues with our bowling
Spots open for middle order positions
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Negatives
Fakhar is not a reliable batsman
All young batters are no way near international standard (Azam Farhan Saim etc)
Ifti with a fluke performance remains a perpetuity
Rauf needs to be dropped from the team just not fits in with our style play
Rizwan and Babar still remains the mainstays of our team

 

[Alter_Ego]

One step forward and two step back. Young batters and bowlers played out of position, oldies clinging on to their position with fluke performances.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Positives:
Babar back in his mojo
Rizwan is still the no.1 keeper in format regardless of the format
SSA had learning curve as skipper,
Nawaz also ensured he remained in scheme of things
Abbas Afridi is a good find
Zaman Khan and WasimJr a breath of fresh air given the issues with our bowling
Spots open for middle order positions
------------------
Negatives
Fakhar is not a reliable batsman
All young batters are no way near international standard (Azam Farhan Saim etc)
Ifti with a fluke performance remains a perpetuity
Rauf needs to be dropped from the team just not fits in with our style play
Rizwan and Babar still remains the mainstays of our team

That is very well summarized. I hope selectors will look into these issues as it is getting worse for Pakistan and T20 World Cup is coming in few months.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Yet another series where Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are leading the charts for Pakistan. Good series for Babar in particular because he was having bad form but now he seems to be back.

Look at the strike rate for Finn Allen though. Brilliant in this series.

 

[greatest]

The only positive is that finally this two months tour has ended. No more humiliation.

 

[Rana]

I should have shame? You guys have got what you wanted? A wicket keeper who bats and contributes. We still got wiped the floor with.

Kuch nahi badla

Sab waise ka waisa Hai

 

[Rana]

The one positive is that you know Pakistan are going nowhere with the core players of

Rizwan
Babar
Fakhar at 4
Iftikhar
Nawaz
Shaheen
Rauf

A really mediocre set of players that are the mainstays of the team

 

[greatest]

After the PSL a few more players would be introduced. Everything is happening in such a short time. Why wait for WC, should have planned before.

 

[FearlessRoar]

I don't see any positives in this series except for a good comeback from Mohammad Nawaz. I see much improvement in his bowling.

 

[greatest]

I don't see any positives in this series except for a good comeback from Mohammad Nawaz. I see much improvement in his bowling.

I think he bowls well on slower pitches with a bit of turn. But good batsmen can easily play him.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

The only positive for PAK and -ve for NZ is that pitches in the Caribbean might be closer to what we saw in the final T20 I.

The pitches may not have the pace and bounce we have seen earlier in the series.

Another World Cup loss for NZ at the hands of PAK, especially with PSL contracts hanging in the balance

 

[Professionalismandflair]

I think he bowls well on slower pitches with a bit of turn. But good batsmen can easily play him.

Once a choker. Twice a choker. Hard to lose the choker label.

 

[Amjid Javed]

The only positive is that finally this two months tour has ended. No more humiliation.

100% spot on

Pakistan are embarrassing themselves in all formats tour after tour

 

[FearlessRoar]

I still can't rate Haris Rauf as a credible bowler anymore. Look at Southee's average, and then look at Haris Rauf's economy.

 

[Haider18]

Positives from the tour:

- Abbas Afridi looks like a solid T20 talent. He should be developed into a proper all-rounder as he looked more comfortable with the bat than most batsmen.

- Zaman Khan impressed with the very little time he got. He should replace Haris Rauf.

- Babar regained my respect by batting with some intent. No.3 looks perfect for him.

.....and that's pretty much it.

 

[pakistani pride]

No pics of the team visiting and eating out? Thats the highlight of the tour nowadays.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The high was watching Saim Ayub hit so cleanly and field like an athlete.

The low was seeing him dropped after a couple of failures.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I can hardly see any highs with a 4-1 defeat against NZ. Certainly I can say that it's the lowest point where a team like Pakistan can reach and with the World Cup is just around the corner this performance surely is not going to help at all.

 

[Asad T]

The low point was Shaheen's captaincy for me. He did well in the last game. But otherwise, his selection, bowling rotations, and strategies were just very bland.

 

[greatest]

The low point was Shaheen's captaincy for me. He did well in the last game. But otherwise, his selection, bowling rotations, and strategies were just very bland.

Yes, quite ordinary stuff. Needs to learn the trade...soon.

 

[ahmadharis1]

The result to be expected, but what was the point of having Rizwan open all the matches? He's a known commodity; you know what you're getting from him and there was no benefit to having him play and open all the matches. Missed opportunity from Pakistan but what else can you expect from this flop board

 

[Cricket Warrior]

well one of the highs is Babar back in form.

 

[BouncerGuy]

HIGHS:

Abbas Afridi
Babar Azam's form

LOWS:

Haris Rauf
Azam Khan
IFFI with the bat
Shaheen's captaincy (mediocre)

 

[greatest]

HIGHS:

Abbas Afridi
Babar Azam's form

LOWS:

Haris Rauf
Azam Khan
IFFI with the bat
Shaheen's captaincy (mediocre)

You forgot to mention Rizwan.

 

[BouncerGuy]

You forgot to mention Rizwan.

Not needed. Rizwan was doing ok. I just mentioned guys who were out of form and gained some form, debutants and the guys who made a comeback but failed like Azam khan. Haris rauf has been poor for a year now.

 

[greatest]

Not needed. Rizwan was doing ok. I just mentioned guys who were out of form and gained some form, debutants and the guys who made a comeback but failed like Azam khan. Haris rauf has been poor for a year now.

Yeah, he was just OK. Maybe still bitter on not opening with his buddy.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Yeah, he was just OK. Maybe still bitter on not opening with his buddy.

The experiment to play new guy up-top failed buddy. Let's see how it goes in the next series. Babar is ok at number 3 and that is why he is mentioned in that HIGHS list.

 

[greatest]

The experiment to play new guy up-top failed buddy. Let's see how it goes in the next series. Babar is ok at number 3 and that is why he is mentioned in that HIGHS list.

I think it was silly to change a combination which was going well. It upsets the rythum. Imagine West Indies experimenting with Desmond Haynes & Gordon Greenidge.
Once in the 90s we had a good opening in Anwar and Sohail. Then we started experimenting with Afridi.

 

[BouncerGuy]

I think it was silly to change a combination which was going well. It upsets the rythum. Imagine West Indies experimenting with Desmond Haynes & Gordon Greenidge.
Once in the 90s we had a good opening in Anwar and Sohail. Then we started experimenting with Afridi.

It was worth trying a new guy who came into the side because he performed as an opener, but this has failed now. I would also say that it was injustice to play Sahibzad farhan so down the order. Why not play his to open when saim failed? Haseeb was asked to open instead of farhan then LOL.

 

[greatest]

It was worth trying a new guy who came into the side because he performed as an opener, but this has failed now. I would also say that it was injustice to play Sahibzad farhan so down the order. Why not play his to open when saim failed? Haseeb was asked to open instead of farhan then LOL.

Have to agree with you! The team management is just clueless and much blame should go to the captain as well.

 

[Energy]

Pakistan haven't gained anything from the Australian and New Zealand tours and have been royally thrashed in both formats.

Clinging on to a couple of individual performances over a 8/9 match loss is full-blown minnow mentality.

 

[CerebralPatriot]

Positives:
- Saim's brilliant 27 from 8 in the first T20I
- Azam's keeping throughout the series
- Fakhars decent innings in the first few games

Negatives
- Rizwan continuing to not just open but be part of our LOI setup in general
- Babar's batting
- Shaheen's rubbish captaincy
- Our pace attack being made to look like kittens
- Pathetic fielding

The fact that we won a series back in 2018 with guys like Umar Amin, Amir Yamin etc just shows how far we have fallen

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Fakhar in a recent interview backed Azam Khan and Saim Ayub despite lacklustre performances in the NZ series in following words:

"This wasn't in my hands because it's the decision of the captain and head coach. But if I was the captain or if it was in my hands, I would never drop Saim Ayub or Azam Khan from any T20 team. They should be given more chances,"

 

[shamaan]

Positives
Babar Azam runs at Number 3
Fakhar strike Rate