Rizwan Urges Team and Fans to Move on from New Zealand Series Loss, Focus on PSL 10

In the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing 3-0 defeat in the ODI series against New Zealand, captain Mohammad Rizwan has called on both his team and the fans to move on from the setback and shift their attention to the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10.

During a candid post-match conference, Rizwan reflected on the team’s performance and expressed his dissatisfaction with the result. He acknowledged New Zealand’s superiority in all aspects of the game, stating, “It was a disappointing series for us. Babar played well, scoring two fifties in this series. But credit must go to New Zealand for their dominance across all three departments. They won the key moments in the series.”

The third ODI, which saw Pakistan chase a target of 265 runs in a rain-affected 42-over match, was marred by a series of early setbacks. Imam-ul-Haq was forced to retire after an injury, and Pakistan’s batting order crumbled under pressure. Despite Babar Azam’s half-century and some resistance from Rizwan and Agha Salman, Pakistan fell short by 43 runs, being bowled out for 221.

New Zealand, on the other hand, set a total of 264-8, thanks to solid contributions from Rhys Mariu (58) and captain Michael Bracewell (59*). While Pakistan’s bowlers, including Akif Javed and Naseem Shah, fought hard, they could not prevent the hosts from building a commanding total.

After the match, Rizwan emphasized the need for the team to leave the past behind and focus on the PSL. “After the Champions Trophy and this series, we’ll leave the past behind. PSL is a big tournament for us, and hopefully, we’ll give the people something to cheer about,” Rizwan said.

With the New Zealand series now concluded, Pakistan’s attention has turned to the PSL, where Rizwan and his teammates are determined to bounce back and provide their fans with a strong performance.