A rejuvenated Pakistan T20I squad is determined to bounce back swiftly as they face New Zealand in the second match of their series in Dunedin on Tuesday.
Newly appointed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha is calling for an immediate response after his team’s crushing nine-wicket defeat in Christchurch on Sunday. The visitors had a rough start to their New Zealand tour, getting bowled out for just 91 runs at Hagley Oval—a target the Black Caps chased with ease, losing only one wicket.
Leading a squad with three debutants and missing key players like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, Salman made no excuses for the underwhelming performance. Instead, he emphasized the need for a rapid turnaround ahead of the next match.
“It was obviously tough. They were bowling in the right areas with good swing and seam movement,” Salman reflected. “But we didn’t bat up to the mark. In New Zealand, the new ball always does a bit, and we have bowlers who can exploit that too. We don’t have much time—we need to regroup quickly.”
Jamieson Shines on Home Turf
New Zealand’s towering pacer Kyle Jamieson was the standout performer in the series opener, delivering a match-winning spell of 3/8. His early strikes, including the dismissals of Mohammad Haris, Irfan Khan, and Shadab Khan, left Pakistan struggling at 11/4 within five overs.
The game marked Jamieson’s first T20I appearance on home soil in over four years following a prolonged battle with a back injury. He recently made his return to international cricket during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, stepping in for Lockie Ferguson.
Jamieson, who first rose to prominence by earning the Player of the Match award in New Zealand’s historic ICC World Test Championship Final victory against India in 2021, is eager to regain consistency.
“It’s been a tough couple of years with injuries,” Jamieson told TVNZ. “It’s just nice to be back on the park, feeling fit and healthy again.”
With more white-ball matches ahead against Pakistan, Jamieson hopes to solidify his place in the squad and maintain his strong form. Meanwhile, Pakistan will be aiming for a much-improved performance as they seek to level the series in Dunedin.