Pakistan has won the toss and opted to field first in the must-win 3rd T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland. Trailing 0-2 in the five-match series, Pakistan faces an uphill battle to stay alive in the contest against a dominant New Zealand team.
Team Lineups and Key Changes
New Zealand has retained its winning combination, with Michael Bracewell continuing as the captain. On the other hand, Pakistan has made several changes to their lineup. Salman Ali Agha will lead the Pakistani side in place of regular captain Babar Azam, whose absence continues to raise questions among fans. Despite the changes, the exclusion of in-form players such as Sufiyan Muqeem and Abbas Afridi has sparked debate.
New Zealand’s Playing XI:
Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears.
Pakistan’s Playing XI:
Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (c), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf.
Pakistan’s Selection Decisions Spark Debate
The selection choices for Pakistan have drawn mixed reactions from both fans and analysts. Many supporters are perplexed by the exclusion of players like Abbas Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem, who have been in good form leading up to the series. Some fans have also expressed disappointment over the absence of experienced players like Usman Khan, further intensifying the debate around team selection.
One fan, Awais, voiced frustration over the decisions: “Abbas and Sufiyan were performing well, yet they were not included in the first two matches. The selection policies remain puzzling.” Meanwhile, Indian cricket fan Abhijeet offered his support for Pakistan, saying, “The boys have faced a lot of criticism. They need a win to regain their confidence.”
*Series at a Pivotal Moment*
New Zealand enters this match with momentum, having convincingly won the first two matches of the series. They will be aiming for another win to seal the series and claim an unassailable 3-0 lead. Pakistan, however, will need a strong performance to avoid a series defeat and revive their campaign.
As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on Pakistan’s young players to see if they can rise to the challenge and turn the tide against a confident New Zealand side.
