Rizwan cites poor fielding, batting for crushing defeat against New Zealand

Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan has attributed the team’s 78-run loss against New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series to poor fielding and batting, while also crediting Glenn Phillips for his match-defining innings.

Speaking at a post-match press conference at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, Rizwan acknowledged that at one point, Pakistan appeared to be in control, but their inability to sustain partnerships and capitalise on key moments led to their downfall.

“When we were bowling, the pitch seemed challenging, but Glenn Phillips batted brilliantly and took New Zealand to a stable position,” Rizwan stated. “We need to focus on our fielding as that plays a crucial role in such matches.”

Pakistan’s fielding woes were evident throughout the match, with dropped catches and misfields adding to the pressure on their bowlers. Rizwan stressed that addressing these lapses was essential for future contests.

In response to a question about the team’s all-rounders, the Pakistan skipper said that while their contributions were valuable, expecting them to bowl 10 overs was unrealistic. “If we play an all-rounder, we can expect 5-6 good overs from him, but we cannot rely entirely on them to complete a full quota,” he explained.

Regarding fast bowler Haris Rauf’s injury, which forced him to leave the field midway through an over, Rizwan offered a positive update, saying, “His injury is not serious, and we are hopeful he will recover soon.”

Pakistan’s batting collapse also came under scrutiny, with Rizwan admitting that the team must focus on building partnerships when wickets start falling. “We need to assess and improve our batting. Partnerships are crucial in such situations,” he said.

New Zealand had set a challenging target, with Phillips’ innings proving pivotal. Pakistan, in response, faltered with the bat, failing to mount a substantial challenge.

The tri-nation series continues on Monday with New Zealand facing South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium.