March 16, 2025: Following Pakistan’s crushing nine-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first T20I, newly appointed T20I captain Salman Agha addressed the team’s performance, acknowledging that they were not up to the mark during the match. The Pakistani side, featuring three debutants — Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, and Mohammed Ali — struggled to get going, with both Nawaz and Samad dismissed for single digits. The Kiwis, led by fiery spells from pacers Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson, dominated the match, bundling Pakistan out for a meager total of 91 runs.
In the post-match presentation, Agha admitted that his team failed to meet expectations, but he remained optimistic about the future. He noted that the more the debutants play, the more they will learn and improve. “It was difficult, we were not up to the mark, but we need to regather (ahead of Dunedin, 2nd T20I). They bowled really well, in great areas, and there was a bit of seam movement as well,” Agha said.
He also pointed out that the new ball tends to offer some assistance in New Zealand, making conditions tough for the batsmen. However, Agha expressed confidence in his team’s bowlers and promised that they would regroup and look to bounce back in the next match. “We had three debutants, the more games they play, they will learn more. The new ball does a bit in New Zealand, we have good bowlers and we will look to do well in the next match,” he added.
As the team prepares for the second T20I in Dunedin, Agha’s leadership will be crucial in ensuring that the debutants grow in confidence and that Pakistan can recover from this tough defeat.