Islamabad, Feb 20: Pakistan’s vice-captain Salman Ali Agha has attributed his side’s disastrous powerplay performance and the absence of Fakhar Zaman at the top order as key reasons behind their damaging 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the opening match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
New Zealand dominated from the outset, posting a formidable 321-run total, before restricting Pakistan to 260 all out. The chase never gained momentum, with Pakistan’s worst-ever home powerplay in ODIs managing only 22 runs for two wickets proving costly.
“We didn’t play well in the powerplay. That is the main reason we lost today,” Salman Ali Agha admitted in the post-match press conference. “We were never able to build momentum.”
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A significant factor in Pakistan’s slow start was Fakhar Zaman’s absence at the top due to an injury sustained while fielding. Forced to bat at No. 4, Fakhar’s delayed entry left a gaping hole in Pakistan’s usual batting template. “Fakhar is our best powerplay batter. Without him, we couldn’t make use of the fielding restrictions,” Salman noted.
Pakistan’s batting frailties extended beyond the powerplay, with several batters failing to convert starts into match-winning knocks. The vice-captain contrasted this with Pakistan’s historic chase against South Africa earlier this year, where effective strike rotation and partnerships ensured victory. “We need to convert our small scores into bigger ones. If we keep getting out cheaply, these losses will continue,” he warned.
This latest defeat marks Pakistan’s third consecutive home loss to New Zealand, raising concerns about their lack of consistency on familiar conditions. “If you want to be the best side, you have to be consistent. We’re lacking that,” Salman added.
While the match exposed several weaknesses in Pakistan’s batting, Salman himself showed promise, scoring 42 off 28 balls, alongside Khushdil Shah, who also fought hard. However, individual efforts weren’t enough to salvage the game. With a crucial clash against India looming, Pakistan must quickly address their powerplay struggles and middle-order inconsistencies or risk an early exit from their title defense.
