Pakistan skipper Shaheen Afridi offered an insight into the side’s roadmap for the T20 World Cup 2024 after the 4-1 loss at the hands of the Kiwis. Afridi’s regime as the captain in the shortest format started off on a disappointing note, with PAK managing only one win in 7 T20Is.
PAK skipper reveals T20 World Cup 2024 roadmap
Speaking after the NZ vs PAK 5th T20I, Afridi revealed that the side wanted to give chances to young players and that 15-20 of them had been sorted out for the T20 World Cup 2024. The Pakistan skipper made the remark in context of the Player of the Match Ifthikar Ahmed’s spell that spun the side to victory.
“Ifthikar is a very experienced player and is always ready for bowling but we wanted to give a proper chance so we planned to give chances to youngsters in this series, we sorted out 16-20 players (for the T20 World Cup),” Afridi said.
NZ vs PAK 5th T20I
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan did not get off to a good start, with debutant opener Haseebullah Khan flopping. Vice captain Mohamnma Rizwan managed to play a run-a-ball 38-run knock before he was sent packing. While Fakhar Zaman played a handy 33-run knock, the rest of the batting order failed to fire, finishing at 134/8 in 20 overs.
In response, the Kiwis looked uncomfortable against the Men in Green for once in this series. Finn Allen, New Zealand’s Mr. Dependable, was stopped short of unleashing his onslaught by Zaman Khan. Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Afridi got two scalps each before Ifthikar spun his side to a 42-run victory.