PAK vs NZ: Pakistan lost to New Zealand's 'B' team at home, Kiwi team ahead 2-1

The New Zealand team is on a Pakistan tour before the T20 World Cup 2024. A five-match T20 series is being played here between the two countries. Despite playing with its full-strength team at home, the Pakistan team is losing to the second-rate team of New Zealand. All the star players of New Zealand are currently busy in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In such a situation, the Kiwi Board has sent its 'B' team under the leadership of Michael Bracewell on this tour.

All the matches of this series are being played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The first match of the series was canceled due to rain. In the second match, Pakistan had won by seven wickets. It was believed that Pakistan would make a clean sweep against this New Zealand team. But New Zealand won the third match by seven wickets and leveled the series 1-1. In the fourth match played on Thursday, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by four runs and took a 2-1 lead in the series.

This performance of the Pakistani team just before the T20 World Cup is very shocking. There has been a tussle regarding posts in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for some time now. At the same time, changes have been made repeatedly in the captaincy of the team. After losing the ODI World Cup 2023, Babar Azam was removed from the captaincy and this responsibility was given to fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.

But just before the World Cup, the board made a big change and once again made Babar the captain. Pakistan has lost many big tournaments under the captaincy of Babar. In such a situation, if Pakistan loses this series, then questions will be raised about his captaincy once again before the World Cup. However, Pakistan can draw this series by winning the last match. But even a draw for Pakistan is like a defeat in front of this New Zealand team.