New Zealand beats Pakistan by nine wickets in first T20 international

Pakistan's new captain leads team to a rough start against New Zealand in T20 international, aiming for 2026 World Cup.

A new era for Pakistan white ball cricket got off to a rough start Sunday with a nine wicket loss to New Zealand in the first of five Twenty20 internationals.

First time captain Salman Ali Agha led a new look team into the match which followed Pakistan's poor performance at home in the 50-overs Champions Trophy and began its buildup to the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The Pakistan batting crumbled against the New Zealand pace attack and the tourists were all out for 91 in 18.4 overs, its fifth-lowest total in T20 internationals.

New Zealand easily ran down that total, reaching 92-1 from 10.1 overs with Tim Seifert making 44 from 29 balls and Finn Allen 29 from 17. Tim Robinson was 18 not out and took two runs from the first ball of the 11th over to complete the win.

“It was obviously difficult and we weren't up to the mark,” Ali Agha said. "They bowled really well. They were bowling in the right areas and there was swing and seam for them as well.

“But out batting wasn't up to the mark. We have won day before the next game and we will try to gather ourselves and be better in the next game.”

Pakistan was in trouble from the start with the new opening pair of Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz, stepping in for the veterans Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, both dismissed without scoring in the first eight balls of the match.