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Pakistan vs New Zealand series In the two-match series against the hosts, Pakistan wrapped up the New Zealand tour with two consecutive test defeats, and there was a lot that the visitors should have done to escape embarrassment.
Although there are many aspects that should have been changed since the first failure of the test, during the whole series there were the three major departments of which Pakistan was absent.
Disastrous Fielding:
If we were to pinpoint the main explanation why Pakistan couldn’t test the Black Caps at home, it would definitely be fielding.
While Pakistan was unable to turn tough opportunities into wickets, during the two-match series they were sometimes unable to take the simplest of catches.
Some may argue that they are not doing enough work in the fielding department, but it could also be argued that their lack of attention was due to complacency when trying to cup catches, as Captain Mohammad Rizwan pointed out.
Whenever some sort of cricket is played, catches winning matches will still stand true and dropping the captain of one of the best teams in the world definitely means it was Pakistani fielders shooting themselves in the foot, rather than New Zealand providing the killer blow during the Tests.
Dismal Batting:
Jury remains out on whether Pakistan batsmen struggled in the New Zealand conditions due to the lack of technique or it was because no other team was able to bat as expertly in the condition of the Kiwis as the hosts themselves.
Nothing great was accomplished by Pakistani batsmen in Pakistan vs New Zealand series if one looks at the results of the batsmen, aside from an individual Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali battle, Rizwan-Faheem Ashraf partnership.
In all four innings, openers Shan Masood and Abid Ali were not able to post a significant average. In the circumstances of New Zealand, Haris Sohail was revealed. Some may suggest that the existence of a Asad Shafiq might have improved the performance of Pakistan, but only one man can do so much in tests.
Plan Less Bowling:
If there was one positive in both tests during the entire episode in which Pakistan outplayed by New Zealand, it was the Men in Green’s bowling.
The bowlers did all they could, but the lack of maturity showed by Rizwan as captain and the lack of will obviously visible in fielders to hang on to catches was the death of the trust of bowlers. Early wickets, pressure on incoming batsmen were some reasons.
Pakistan has almost always relied on their bowling to win games, be it in whatever cricket style, but if the pacers and spinners are unable to reap the benefits of their hard work due to poor fielding, it won’t take long for them to lose the will to run hard and give it all.
In conclusion, Pakistan played well in the T20Is and proved that they are capable of being world beaters. The first two T20Is were lost, but they came back to prevent a clean sweep.
However, their success in tests that even under head coach Misbahul Haq, one of the best Test captains in Pakistan, reveals that they don’t spend in players who can sweat it out for five days. The formula of using Pakistan Super League as the final practice before players are taken into the national mix for ODIs, T20Is and Tests also does not fit in the longest format for Pakistan.
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