Serious concerns for Pakistan ahead of World T20: Afridi

Published January 22, 2016
“I think with five or six batsmen back in the dressing room in the first six overs, what are you expecting?” — AFP
“I think with five or six batsmen back in the dressing room in the first six overs, what are you expecting?” — AFP

WELLINGTON: Pakistan's win against New Zealand in the first T20 in Auckland must seem like a distant memory after the tourists were comprehensively beaten by the Kiwis yet again.

Pakistan won the first game of the three-match series by 16 runs before New Zealand stormed the second by 10 wickets - with a world record 171 partnership between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson. The hosts maintained that form to win equally emphatically in the 3rd T20.

Corey Anderson produced an outstanding allround performance with an unbeaten 82 to lead New Zealand to 196-5 as it batted first and took 2-17 as New Zealand dismissed Pakistan for 101 in 16.1 overs.

Pakistan's hopes of saving the match and series quickly dissolved when it was reduced to 15-3 by the third over and captain Shahid Afridi said there were serious concerns for the team before the World T20 in March.

“I think with five or six batsmen back in the dressing room in the first six overs, what are you expecting?” Afridi said after the match.

“Before the World T20 there are a lot of things we need to see and we will see what decisions have to be made now.

“We have some time but I think if we keep making these mistakes we'll come nowhere.”

Pakistan's T20 form dipped has drastically in the last few months. First they were swept aside by England 3-0 late last year and now a complete annihilation at the hands of New Zealand has left them on the ropes.

They are grouped with India, Australia, New Zealand and a qualifier in the World T20 and on current form it appears a tough ask for Afridi's side.

Before the start of the New Zealand series, the 35-year-old captain zeroed in on the mistakes that Pakistan made in the England series and termed them “school boy errors”.

But Friday's loss to New Zealand was a picture of complete helplessness for Pakistan.

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.