Pakistan's T20 cricket squad faced a disastrous beginning to their series against New Zealand, suffering a significant nine-wicket defeat in the first T20I held on March 16, 2025, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The newly appointed captain Salman Ali Agha led his team onto the field amid high hopes, but the reality was far from favorable.
Having been put to bat first, Pakistan opened their innings with Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz, both making unfortunate exits without scoring any runs. The collapse began early, with Pakistan struggling at just 1/3 after only 2.2 overs. Irfan Khan contributed only one run to the faltering total, adding to the team's woes as they quickly found themselves reeling.
Khushdil Shah managed to provide some resistance, scoring 32 runs, and was followed by Agha, who chipped in with 18 runs. Unfortunately, the damage had been done, and the total fell to a meek 91 runs, culminating their innings after just 18.4 overs. This marked Pakistan's fifth-lowest score ever recorded in T20 internationals.
The circumstances worsened for Pakistan as New Zealand, powered by Tim Seifert’s 44 runs off 29 balls and Finn Allen’s 29 off 17, made quick work of the required target. The home team reached 92 for just one wicket and 59 balls remaining—a new low for Pakistan, eclipsing their previous record of 101 runs against New Zealand set back in 2016.
Jamieson’s performance was instrumental to New Zealand's success. The towering paceman ended with figures of 3 for 8, continuously dismantling the Pakistani lineup, and earned the title of man of the match. Alongside him, Jacob Duffy took 4 wickets for just 14 runs, showcasing exceptional skill with both pace and bounce on the track, leaving the Pakistani batsmen bewildered.
Reflecting on the dismal performance, the Pakistani captain Agha stated, "It was obviously difficult, and we weren’t up to the mark. They bowled really well. They were bowling in the right areas, and there was swing and seam for them as well. But our batting wasn’t up to the mark... we will try to gather ourselves and be good for the next game.” His determination to rectify the situation remains evident as the team prepares for the second match of the series.
Despite the disarray, there were brief moments of respite when Agha and Khushdil managed to secure 46 runs for the fifth wicket—such moments were fleeting with no other batting performances resembling stability. The rest of the line-up crumbled under pressure, with only three players managing to reach double digits.
This defeat not only counts against Pakistan's record but is also considered their worst performance under the conditions of play, suffering the most significant losses by the number of balls remaining (previously held by their nine-wicket loss to Australia in 2018 with 55 balls to spare). The dynamics of the match starkly illustrated the challenges the team must face moving forward.
The second T20I will take place on March 18, 2025, at Dunedin, and the hope is for the players to recalibrate and bring forth more reliable performances to recoup lost ground—it’s no secret the team has its work cut out for them. If they aim to build momentum and improve as the series progresses, addressing batting vulnerabilities will be key.
Pakistan’s roster adjustment, dropping veteran players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, signifies their intent to navigate away from established norms as they seek to re-energize their lineup for the future, particularly with the next T20 World Cup looming on the calendar.
All eyes will be on the team as they transition swiftly from this setback to their next challenge.