Pakistan must explore other options to beat New Zealand

The Pakistan cricket team has lost all the matches against New Zealand since 2023, and they are struggling to beat them, whether it's a test match, T20I, or ODI match. The result is not good for the Pakistan cricket team, as they have lost all the matches and not won a single game against New Zealand with almost 2 years having passed.

The Pakistan bowlers have been lacking to take regular wickets, and they are not able to take crucial wickets at the right time on Asian pitches. Bowlers cannot swing the ball like any good opposition side and spinners, who are selected to spin the ball, cannot and are unable to spin the ball. 

Moreover, the selectors tried young lads like Gohar, Mir Hamaza, and other spinners to see whether they could fit in the team and take wickets; however, they could not take enough wickets and could not get a position in the playing 11 after playing several games. Moreover, even fast bowlers were tried, like Wasim Khan Jr., Abas Afridi, etc., and they were not able to make their position in the playing XI after playing several games. 

However, the Pakistan cricket board cannot change its current Champions Trophy squad selected for 2025, and they have to make other plans to beat the big opposition team, and that plan they should rely on is batting like the Indian team does and doing proper fielding, which Pakistan has been inconsistent in this field. Pakistan must go with 2 all-rounders in the playing 11 for Champions Trophy 2025 matches against a good side because Haris Rauf or Faheem Ashraf are both expected to leak runs on Pakistan and UAE pitches. Therefore, the focus should be to play with the same team that Pakistan lost against New Zealand in the tri-nation final and focus on fielding so that crucial catches are not dropped.  

The Pakistan vs. New Zealand match will take place on 19th February.