Fielding, batting must improve: Rizwan

Pakistan skipper opens up on loss to NZ in tri-nation final

Pakistan's white-ball captain, Mohammad Rizwan, has called for better fielding after his team's disappointing defeat in the final of the tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.

After the match, Rizwan acknowledged the team's weaknesses in the fielding department. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he said, "We need to improve our fielding. If we look at all three games, there is much room for improvement. This is one area where we have been lacking."

Rizwan also stressed the importance of focusing on fielding ahead of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, which begins on February 19.

The Pakistan captain also pointed out that his team's total was not enough to defend. Rizwan, who had scored a match-winning century against South Africa on Wednesday, said, "We were 15 runs short of a defendable total. We wanted to bat first because we thought the pitch would be tougher in the second half, but their bowlers restricted us well. We were aiming for 280, but they kept things tight."

Rizwan also discussed his own crucial wicket, adding, "Agha and I were trying to build a partnership, but their bowlers didn't give us many scoring opportunities. When I got out, it was a big blow."

Chasing 243, New Zealand comfortably reached the target with 28 balls to spare. After an early setback at 5/1, Kane Williamson (34) and Devon Conway (48) steadied the innings. Mitchell and Latham then shared an 87-run partnership to take New Zealand to the brink of victory. Glenn Phillips (20*) finished the job.

Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 242, with Mohammad Rizwan top-scoring with 46. O'Rourke's four wickets and contributions from Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell helped New Zealand bowl Pakistan out.

Pak head coach Aqib backs Babar as opener

Pakistan's head coach Aqib Javed has expressed his strong belief in Babar Azam's ability to lead the team from the top of the order.

He stated, "I believe Babar Azam should open in these conditions. I am hopeful that he will play a big innings in important match." Aqib's comments come as part of his overall strategy for the team, focusing on a balanced approach to batting and the crucial middle overs.

Aqib also emphasized the importance of batting between the 11th and 40th overs, a phase he considers vital for building strong partnerships.

"When Pakistan loses early wickets, it puts pressure on the batsmen facing the opposition's spinners," he said, explaining how early dismissals impact the team's performance.

However, he also highlighted that if the top order remains intact, opposition spinners are less likely to dominate.

Reflecting on the team's performance and pitch conditions, Aqib added, "From the start, we could tell that today's pitch wasn't one for big scores, which is why we chose to bat first."

He further noted that had Pakistan managed to reach a score of 270, the result could have been different, emphasizing the need for the top three batsmen to play longer innings on such pitches.

Aqib remains optimistic about Pakistan's future performances.

"This same team will perform very well in the Champions Trophy. After losing one or two matches, people think the team is not good enough, but this team has everything it needs to be at the top," he added.

He also discussed the team's composition, stressing the need for a balance of spin and pace all-rounders.

"We needed spin all-rounders and pace all-rounders, which is why Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf are part of the team. When playing in a tournament, it's important to have variety," he explained.

Aqib also praised Khushdil Shah for his impressive bowling performances in both matches. "Every team has one specialist spinner and one all-rounder, and Khushdil has bowled well in the previous and today's matches," he further added.

Aqib concluded by saying, "If Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam can form a solid partnership at the top of the order, things will improve greatly."