Pakistan endured a humiliating 115-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Mount Maunganui, drawing sharp criticism from former cricketer Basit Ali.
After a stunning win in the third T20I, Pakistan’s inexperienced batting lineup collapsed against the towering pace duo of Zakary Foulkes and Jacob Duffy. The Kiwis once again dominated Pakistan’s bowlers, with Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan failing to contain the run flow.
New Zealand crossed the 200-run mark yet again, exposing Pakistan’s struggles with both bat and ball.
Chasing 222, Pakistan desperately needed a standout innings, similar to Hassan Nawaz’s unbeaten 105 in the previous game. However, Foulkes and Duffy tore through the batting order, sealing a commanding series win for New Zealand.
Following the defeat, Basit Ali did not hold back in his criticism, suggesting Pakistan should compete against lower-ranked teams if they intend to persist with the current squad.
"Kids are not playing against us. If you want to keep this team, do it against Nepal or Ireland. You are wasting time. Just like the domestic T20 tournament is a waste of time and money, this tour is just like that. It is better to play against Bangladesh," Basit said.
Ali, who played 19 Tests and 30 ODIs for Pakistan from 1993-1996, was referring the currently-held National T20 Cup as 'waste of time,' the same way this New Zealand tour was.
Throughout the chase, Pakistan’s batters struggled against New Zealand’s disciplined pace attack. Foulkes and Duffy used their height to extract bounce and swing, leaving the Men in Green reeling.
With New Zealand securing an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, the final T20I in Wellington on Wednesday is now a mere formality.
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