NZ name squad for last two Pak T20Is

Matt Henry has been officially ruled out of fourth and fifth T20Is

New Zealand pacer Matt Henry has been officially ruled out of the fourth and fifth T20Is against Pakistan due to a shoulder injury, as confirmed by the New Zealand Cricket Board on Saturday.

Although Henry had initially been named in the squad, he will now focus on his rehabilitation to recover from the injury. The right-arm pacer sustained the issue while taking a catch during New Zealand's Champions Trophy semi-final victory over South Africa earlier this month, which had already ruled him out of the final against India.

To replace Henry for the final two games, Zakary Foulkes, who was originally selected only for the first three matches, has been retained. Foulkes impressed in his appearances, taking 1 for 11 in three overs in the first T20I and 0 for 32 in the second T20I, both of which New Zealand won.

In another squad change, pacer Kyle Jamieson has been omitted from the remaining matches. Jamieson was named Player of the Match in the first T20I after taking 3 for 8, but struggled in the third game, conceding 54 runs without taking a wicket in New Zealand's only defeat of the series. Will O'Rourke, who was part of the squad for the first three games, will now replace Jamieson.

New Zealand's fast-bowling attack continues to be led by Jacob Duffy, who has played in all three matches and is currently the leading wicket-taker of the series with seven wickets. James Neesham and Ben Sears have each featured in two matches, while spinners Ish Sodhi and captain Michael Bracewell have been a constant in all three encounters.

New Zealand currently leads the five-match series 2-1, with the fourth T20I set to take place on Sunday in Mount Maunganui, followed by the final T20I on Wednesday in Wellington.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, with this commanding win, is alive in the series, but they still trail 1-2. With two matches still to play, the tourists have found the momentum just at the right time. The youngsters stepped up this time around and they would expect the same in the upcoming matches, which of course, are do and die.

The victorious captain of Pakistan, Salman Agha said that he is happy with the overall team's performance and he congratulated Hasan for his impressive century.

"Both openers batted really well and I always wanted to back them. I told my team that 200 is a par score and they can chase it down," said Salman in a post-match presser.

New Zealand squad for remaining T20Is against Pakistan:

Michael Bracewell (captain), Finn Allen, Mitchell Hay (wk), Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk), Mark Chapman, Zakary Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi.

Hasan's century a tight slap for doubters: Ahmed Shehzad

Pakistan's opening batter Ahmed Shehzad has praised young batter Hasan Nawaz for his record-breaking century in the third T20I against New Zealand in Auckland on Friday.

Nawaz's remarkable performance keeps Pakistan's hopes alive in the five-match series, drawing praise from fans and cricketing experts alike.

Among those who congratulated Nawaz was Ahmed Shehzad, who took to social media to celebrate his achievement. Shehzad welcomed Nawaz into the exclusive club of Pakistani batters who have scored a T20I century, highlighting his impressive performance.

In his post, Shehzad also took a subtle dig at those who had questioned Pakistan's ability to replace its senior players, saying, "Where are those who claim there's no talent to replace seniors in Pakistan?"

He emphasized that Hasan's achievement was a strong response to such doubts, highlighting the emerging talent in the country and describing Nawaz's century as a "tight slap" to the critics, showcasing the potential of Pakistan's young players.