‘Hopefully, we will be settled before T20 World Cup 2024’ – Babar Azam after Pakistan’s defeat to New Zealand

Babar Azam. (Source -Twitter/X)

Babar Azam didn’t want to read too much into Pakistan’s defeat in the fourth T20I versus New Zealand in the five-match series on Thursday, April 25 as the right-handed batter said that the team is trying new things ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in June.

The Kiwis are playing with a second-string team as the established names are plying their trade in the Indian Premier League. Therefore, Pakistan was expected to dominate proceedings at home. However, the Men in Green have been disappointing so far as they are trailing 1-2, with one match left to play. Babar and Co. are facing criticism after their defeat in the fourth T20I against New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

However, the Pakistan captain isn’t too perturbed as he is hopeful that the team will be settled before they begin their campaign in the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

“We are trying something new and different in every game. Hopefully, we will be settled before going for the T20 World Cup,” Babar was quoted as saying by TOI.

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Pakistan opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Tim Robinson and Tom Blundell got New Zealand off to a flying start before the latter was dismissed for a 15-ball 28. Dean Foxcroft and Robinson took the tourists close to the three-figure mark before the latter was dismissed for a 36-ball 51. The hosts took wickets at regular intervals at the backend to stem the flow of runs. Eventually, the Blackcaps finished at 178/7 in their 20 overs.

In reply, Fakhar Zaman’s 61 off 45 balls kept the home side in the run chase after the top three batters fell cheaply. Iftikhar Ahmed got himself a start but couldn’t capitalise. Imad Wasim played an unbeaten knock of 22 off 11 balls but it wasn’t enough to take the Asian giants to victory. Pakistan eventually lost the match by four runs as they finished on 174/8.

“They stared nicely but our bowlers made a good comeback, we stuck to a length. In the first six overs, we lost quite a number of wickets. Fakhar’s innings was outstanding, unfortunately, we couldn’t chase it down, Imad also played good innings,” Babar noted. “It was a different surface, the average score here is 190 and we did well to restrict them and it was a chaseable total. Our youngsters did well.”

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Pakistan have squandered the chance to win the series and can now only level it if they win the fifth and final T20I on Saturday, April 27.