WHEN Pakistan’s high-risk Twenty20 approach did not work, there was no fallback plan and they collapsed in a heap against New Zealand in the crucial fourth game of the series on Sunday. Riding on the momentum of their victory in the previous game, Pakistan had gone into the match looking to level the five-game rubber against the hosts. This time, though, they were undone by New Zealand’s disciplined bowling, meaning the ‘intent’ promised by the Pakistan team management and skipper Salman Ali Agha produced the desired result in just one of the four games. The team’s approach during the New Zealand series has been largely based on going after every ball. It paid off when young opener Hasan Nawaz hit a record-breaking century in a big chase for Pakistan in the third game. That, though, was the only game where he made an impact. In the first two matches of his international career, Hasan had ducks. He scored just one on Sunday. His opening partner Mohammad Haris, who also sparkled in just the third T20, has scored zero, 11, 41 and two. There should be no denying their promise but in three of the four games, the duo failed in their attempt to fire up Pakistan’s innings. Apart from the captain, no other batter in the middle or lower order has shown consistency. Game awareness has been rare; it has been either boom or bust. Sadly, the latter has been more frequent.

Some critics have dismissed Pakistan’s approach as mindless slogging. Pakistan went into the series with a new-look squad, giving opportunities to younger players as they look to build for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup. Now, it is back to the drawing board. With the result of the series not in doubt, Salman and his men have the chance to perhaps start with a fresh mindset and a better approach in the fifth and final T20 against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025