AUCKLAND: Pakistan will find themselves in a challenging position when they take on New Zealand in the third Twenty20 International at Eden Park on Friday.

After suffering a humiliating defeat in the series opener, where they were bowled out for just 91, and a lacklustre performance in the second game, Pakistan will need to regroup and step up their game to stay alive in the five-match series.

Their fielding has been particularly disappointing, with catches being dropped repeatedly — 10 in the first match and eight out of nine in the second. The team must overcome these errors if they are to challenge New Zealand in Auckland.

Pakistan, although depleted with the absence of Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, and the injured Saim Ayub, are also grappling with the growing pains of a new-look side.

The opening pair of Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Haris, still in the early stages of their international careers, has struggled to cope with the pace and bounce of the conditions. Hassan’s two ducks in as many games have left the team management frustrated, and his place in the XI could be under threat unless he can turn things around quickly.

“I know we lost two tough matches, but I think the true potential of these youngsters will come forward gradually,” Pakistan’s interim head coach Aaqib Javed told reporters on the eve of the match. “Players who haven’t played a lot of cricket outside Pakistan, they struggle with the steep bounce or slight swing early on, but gradually these youngsters will show their potential.”

While there were some enco­uraging signs in the second game — Salman Ali Agha’s 46 off 28 balls and cameos from Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi — Pakistan’s total of 135-9 in a rain-affected 15-over game was far from enough to challenge New Zealand’s strong lineup.

Their bowling attack, which has more potential than their batting, failed to contain New Zealand, with Tim Seifert and Finn Allen proving particularly destructive in both games.

Pakistan will need to dismiss these openers early to have any hope of containing New Zealand’s middle order, and a win at the toss, which has eluded them so far, will be crucial.

New Zealand, on the other hand, have been in commanding form. Their bowlers have operated like a well-oiled machine in favourable conditions, and despite dropping three catches in the first match, they have held on to 18 across the series.

The team has not been seriously tested yet, and with key players like James Neesham returning to the fold, they will be looking to continue their dominance.

Neesham, who took two wickets in the second game, is looking to regain his form after a difficult period, and his performance could prove vital as New Zealand aim to seal the series.

For Pakistan, the stakes are high. They are coming off a poor home Champions Trophy campaign and are on a five-match losing streak in T20Is, stretching back to December 2024. The team needs to lift its game if they hope to make a competitive showing in this series and build some momentum ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, and Aaqib said that was the main target for the team.

“We are looking at these youngsters from this perspective — that they may struggle a bit here, but the confidence they’ll gain from performing in tough conditions will help them a lot when we play in the subcontinent, where we have two big tournaments ahead,” he noted.

As the match heads to Auckland, conditions are expected to favour batting, with Eden Park’s short boundaries often producing high-scoring games. With no rain forecast, the stage is set for an exciting contest. Pakistan will need to play a near-perfect game, starting with winning the toss and making early breakthroughs in the New Zealand batting line-up. The pressure is on them to lift their performance and keep the series alive.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2025