Former captain Ramiz Raja lashed out at Pakistan team after they suffered a defeat against New Zealand in the third T20I on Sunday in Rawalpindi.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Raja said that Pakistan should not lose to a depleted New Zealand side on home soil.
"Losing is a part of cricket, but such a defeat shakes the foundation a bit, especially with the World Cup just around the corner. Playing at home, on your favourite surface, against a team that isn't even a complete side - not a first-tier or even a second-tier New Zealand team - makes it an embarrassing loss,” Raja said.
"Let's admit that in T20, anyone's luck can change, but such a drastic turn of tables within 24 hours is a blow to Pakistan's reputation. For some time now, there has been a notion that one can expect anything from Pakistan on a giver day. Just 24 hours ago, Pakistan defeated them by 7 wickets, and 24 hours later, they suffered a 7-wicket defeat," he added.
He also urged the Pakistan batters to not throw away their wickets after getting set.
"This should not happen. The batsmen are set should not get out after scoring just 20-30 runs. That's why the score is only 180. This pitch is worth at least 250 runs, as we know how many runs have been scored here before. Pakistan scored fewer runs, and no one played a long innings. The bowling performance was also quite mediocre,” he said.
New Zealand made a stunning comeback in the five-match T20I series courtesy of Mark Chapman who led the visitors to victory in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
The series is now level at 1-1 with two matches remaining in Lahore. The matches are scheduled on April 25 and 27 at the Gaddafi Stadium.
New Zealand had a great start to the 179-run target with openers Tim Robinson (28) and Tim Seifert (21), scoring 42 runs for the first wicket.
The home side looked to stage a comeback with back-to-back dismissals by Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi but Chapman, paired with Dean Foxcroft had their plans.
The left-hander was the aggressor in the partnership of 117 runs while Foxcroft supported him brilliantly. Chapman reached his eighth fifty in this format and finished on an unbeaten score of 87. He stroked nine fours and four sixes in his 42-ball innings
Foxcroft made 31 off 29 balls with the chase completing in the 19th over.
Earlier, the hosts started well with Saim Ayub dominating the visitors. The opening duo of Saim and Babar made 54-0. Saim was caught by James Neesham off Ish Sodhi's bowling after scoring 32 runs from 22 balls at a strike rate of 145.45.
Meanwhile, in a 62-run partnership with Irfan Khan, Shadab stroked 41 runs off 20 balls with the help of six boundaries. Irfan finished not-out on 20-ball 30, smashing three fours and a six.
- Ramiz Raja
