Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha seeks a swift response after a nine-wicket loss to New Zealand in their opening match. Despite fielding a new team missing key players, Agha is determined for improvement. New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson excelled, collecting 3/8 and celebrating a return to form after a lengthy injury absence.
New Pakistan T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha, is urging his team to quickly regroup after their disappointing nine-wicket defeat to New Zealand in Christchurch. In their tour opener, Pakistan struggled significantly, bowled out for a mere 91 runs at Hagley Oval, allowing New Zealand to chase down the target with ease, losing only one wicket. This match marked Salman’s inaugural appearance as captain, with a team including three debutants and missing key players like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.
Salman did not offer excuses for the team’s performance and emphasized the need for improvement ahead of the next game in Dunedin. He acknowledged the difficulty of playing in New Zealand, stating, “It was obviously difficult, they were bowling in the right area and there was swing and seam for them as well,” while underscoring the need for better batting. He noted, “We don’t have much time. We need to regather as quickly as we can.”
In the opening match, New Zealand’s pacer, Kyle Jamieson, made a significant impact, earning Player of the Match with career-best figures of 3/8. He initiated the collapse of Pakistan’s batting order by claiming the wicket of Mohammad Haris early and following up with two additional dismissals, leaving the tourists struggling at 11/4. Jamieson has been recovering from back injuries and made his first T20I appearance on home soil in over four years.
Jamieson reflected on his challenges over the past couple of years, expressing gratitude for his return to form: “It’s just nice to be on the park and nice to be fit and healthy.” With several white-ball matches against Pakistan scheduled in the coming month, he looks forward to showcasing his skills at the international level.
In summary, Pakistan’s new T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is focused on a quick turnaround following a poor performance against New Zealand. Despite missing key players, he seeks improvement from his team in the next match. Meanwhile, Kyle Jamieson shines for New Zealand, marking a significant comeback after injury, and aims to capitalize on future matches to demonstrate his talent.
Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com
