Courtesy: PCB/Google
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has slammed the national team's performance in the ongoing three-match One-Day International (ODI) series in New Zealand against the BlackCaps. After the Champions Trophy 2025 failure at home, the Men in Green were under immense pressure to win the white-ball series against the Kiwis. Before the ODI series, New Zealand pulverised the visitors in the five-match T20 International (T20I) competition by 4-1. However, things were expected to change in the 50-over competition, but Pakistan’s lackluster show continued as they lost two games in a row and handed an unassailable lead to the hosts.
In the second ODI at Seddon Park, Pakistan’s top five batters departed on single-digit scores while chasing 283 runs. However, the batting efforts from Faheem Ashraf (73 off 80) and Naseem Shah (51 off 44) narrowed Pakistan’s margin of defeat as the BlackCaps won by 84 runs to seal the series. Noting Pakistan’s disheartening performances, Basit criticised Pakistan's obsolete playing style and also added that the Green Army have betrayed the team’s fans. "Pakistan team has betrayed us. I don't know what era of cricket we are playing. Pakistan made a strong comeback after Mitchell's dismissal but poor captaincy. This is not a Pakistan team; that's all I can say," said Basit on his YouTube channel.
He also teased the Pakistan top-order batters by calling them Bradman and urged the side to return without playing the last ODI to save themselves from humiliation. "The Bradmans from one to six departed in single digits except for Tayyab Tahir. I feel that instead of playing the third match, Pakistan should say, 'You win, so let us go back to our home; we are homesick.' This is New Zealand's C team. I am surprised what if Naseem Shah didn't perform. Pakistan shouldn't have scored 200-plus; we should have been folded on 140," added Basit.
Pakistan to play for pride in the last ODI of three-match series
Pakistan will play the last ODI to avoid humiliation as the defeat in the final match will result in whitewash. Rizwan and his men will square off against the BlackCaps in the third ODI at Bay Oval on April 5. Pakistan were last clean sweeped against England in the three-match ODI series in England in 2021.
The 1992 World Cup champions will strive to play with positive intent to save themselves from embarrassment. New Zealand, who whitewashed Pakistan in the five-match affair in 2017-18, will look to grab this opportunity with both hands.
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