PAK vs NZ 3rd T20I: After two consecutive defeats in the five-match T20I series, Pakistan is set to take on New Zealand in a crucial third T20I at Eden Park, Auckland. With the series slipping away, the Men in Green must find a way to turn things around and keep their hopes alive.
This tour of New Zealand has been more than just a bilateral contest—it has been a battle for redemption. Pakistan, the host nation of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, faced a disappointing campaign in the tournament, becoming the first team to be eliminated. That early exit not only shattered expectations but also raised concerns about the team’s form and consistency on the international stage.
Now, as they step onto the field at Eden Park, Pakistan has a chance to reclaim some pride and prove their mettle. A victory in this do-or-die fixture could provide a much-needed morale boost and help them stay competitive in the series. With their backs against the wall, all eyes will be on Pakistan to see if they can stage a comeback against a formidable New Zealand side.
<h2>2 Changes Pakistan Might Make for 3rd T20I</h2>
<h3 itemprop="name" class="cb-font-40">Abbas Afridi IN, Mohammad Ali OUT</h3>
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202503/image_430x256_67db9ffb7b6d7.jpg" alt="">
Abbas Afridi's exclusion in favor of Mohammad Ali for the first T20I seems unjustified, especially considering Abbas’s consistent performances in the format. With 30 wickets in 18 T20Is at an economy rate slightly above 8, he has proven to be a reliable wicket-taking option without any notable dip in form.
What further strengthens Abbas’s case is his superior control over the ball and his experience in handling the crucial first powerplay overs. In a format where early breakthroughs can significantly impact the game’s momentum, having a bowler with his level of precision and adaptability is an asset.
On the other hand, while Mohammad Ali may have been given the nod, it raises questions about whether debuting him in a big series is the right call, especially when a proven performer like Abbas is available. Team selection should be based on merit, experience, and suitability for specific match situations, and in this regard, Abbas Afridi appears to be the more strategic choice.
<h3>Usman Khan IN, Hasan Nawaj OUT</h3>
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202503/image_430x256_67db9ff950d3b.jpg" alt="">
Hasan Nawaz is another player who made his debut against New Zealand in this series, earning his selection after an impressive first-class season. While his domestic performances justified his inclusion, it might now be the right time to consider bringing back Usman Khan.
Although Usman Khan hasn’t been an extraordinary batter, his versatility makes him a valuable asset. Batting in the middle order, he has registered one half-century in 16 innings, which may not be eye-catching, but his ability to contribute in multiple roles strengthens his case. In addition to his batting, Usman offers wicketkeeping skills, providing an extra layer of flexibility to the team’s composition.
With the ongoing series demanding adaptability and depth in the squad, Usman Khan’s all-round capabilities could prove beneficial, making a strong case for his return to the playing XI.

PAK vs NZ 3rd T20I: 2 Changes Pakistan Might Make for 3rd T20I against New Zealand 2025

After two consecutive losses, Pakistan faces New Zealand in the third T20I at Eden Park, seeking redemption after their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 disappointment. A must-win clash for Pakistan’s pride and confidence.

Pakistan battles New Zealand in the third T20I after back-to-back defeats, aiming to reclaim pride following their ICC Champions Trophy exit.

pak-vs-nz-3rd-t20i-2-changes-pakistan-might-make-for-3rd-t20i-against-new-zealand-2025

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to begin on March 22, 2025, and will conclude on May 25, 2025. This season will witness some significant leadership changes, with several franchises appointing new captains.
The tournament will once again feature 10 teams, with star-studded squads, fresh strategies, and fierce rivalries. Below is the detailed list of IPL 2025 teams, their captains, head coaches, probable playing 11s, and full squads.

<h2>IPL 2025: Captains and Coaches List</h2>
<table data-start="504" data-end="1322" border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ecebf8; border-color: #000000; border-style: ridge;">
<thead data-start="504" data-end="543">
<tr data-start="504" data-end="543">
<th data-start="504" data-end="511" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Team</th>
<th data-start="511" data-end="521" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Captain</th>
<th data-start="521" data-end="529" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Price</th>
<th data-start="529" data-end="543" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Head Coach</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody data-start="585" data-end="1322">
<tr data-start="585" data-end="662">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Chennai Super Kings (CSK)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ruturaj Gaikwad</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹18 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Stephen Fleming</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="663" data-end="727">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Delhi Capitals (DC)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Axar Patel</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹18 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hemang Badani</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="728" data-end="796">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Gujarat Titans (GT)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Shubman Gill</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹16.50 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ashish Nehra</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="797" data-end="881">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ajinkya Rahane</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹23.75 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Chandrakant Pandit</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="882" data-end="957">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mumbai Indians (MI)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hardik Pandya</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹16.35 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mahela Jayawardene</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="958" data-end="1027">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Punjab Kings (PBKS)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Shreyas Iyer</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹26.75 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ricky Ponting</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="1028" data-end="1095">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Rajasthan Royals (RR)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sanju Samson</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹18 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Rahul Dravid</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="1096" data-end="1175">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Rajat Patidar</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹21 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Andy Flower</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="1176" data-end="1248">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Pat Cummins</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹18 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Daniel Vettori</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="1249" data-end="1322">
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Rishabh Pant</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">₹27 Cr</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Justin Langer</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 data-start="1329" data-end="1367">IPL 2025 Team-by-Team Breakdown</h2>
<h3>1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Stephen Fleming
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (WK), R. Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad.
</li>
<li>
Full Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth
</li>
</ul>
<h3>2. Delhi Capitals (DC)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Axar Patel
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Hemang Badani
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11: Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, Abhishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar.
</li>
<li>
Full Squad: KL Rahul, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karun Nair, Abhishek Porel, Tristian Stubbs, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natrajan, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Mukesh Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmanta Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari
</li>
<li>
Injury Update: Harry Brook pulled out of the competition.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>3. Gujarat Titans (GT)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Shubman Gill
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Ashish Nehra
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11: Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna.
</li>
<li>
Full Squad: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler, B. Sai Sudharshan, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Mahipal Lomror, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Manav Suthar, Washington Sundar, Gerald Coetzee, Mohmmad Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Sherfane Rutherford, R. Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Kareem Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya
</li>
</ul>
<h3>4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Ajinkya Rahane
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Chandrakant Pandit
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11: Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora.
</li>
<li>
Full Squad:
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali
Injury replacement: Umran Malik was replaced by Chetan Sakariya.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>5. Mumbai Indians (MI)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Hardik Pandya
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Mahela Jayawardene
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11: Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Ryan Rickelton, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar.
</li>
<li>
Full Squad:
Hardik Pandya (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Venkat Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Vignesh Puthhur, Suryakumar Yadav
Injury replacements: Allah Ghazanfar and Lizaad Williams were replaced by Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Corbin Bosch.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>6. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Rishabh Pant
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Justin Langer
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11:
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahamad, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan
</li>
<li>
Full Squad: Rishabh Pant (c), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bisnoi, Abdul Samad, Aryan Juyal, Akash Deep, Himmat Singh, M Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni, Matthew Breetzke
</li>
</ul>
<h3>7. Punjab Kings (PBKS)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Shreyas Iyer
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Ricky Ponting
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11:
Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
</li>
<li>
Full Squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey, Nehal Wadhera
</li>
</ul>
<h3>8. Rajasthan Royals (RR)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Sanju Samson
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Rahul Dravid
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma
</li>
<li>
Full Squad: Sanju Samson (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer, Wainindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya Singh, Nitish Rana, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Charak, Fazal Farooqi, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kwena Maphaka, Kunal Rathore, Ashok Sharma
</li>
</ul>
<h3>9. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Captain: Rajat Patidar
</li>
<li>
Head Coach: Andy Flower
</li>
<li>
Probable Playing 11:
Phil Salt (wk), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
</li>
<li>
Full Squad: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee
</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="4284" data-end="4322">10. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)</h3>
<ul data-start="4323" data-end="4411">
<li data-start="4323" data-end="4351">Captain: Pat Cummins</li>
<li data-start="4377" data-end="4411">Head Coach: Daniel Vettori</li>
<li data-start="4377" data-end="4411">Probable Playing 11: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Pat Cummins (C), Mohammad Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar</li>
<li data-start="4377" data-end="4411">Full Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Mohammad Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Marco Jansen, Wanindu Hasaranga, Abdul Samad, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, T. Natarajan, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vivrant Sharma, Umran Malik, Jaydev Unadkat, Jitesh Sharma, Arjun Tendulkar, Kartik Tyagi</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Injury replacement: Brydon Carse was replaced by Wiaan Mulder.
</li>
</ul>

IPL 2025: All Teams Captains, Squads & Playing 11 – Full List Here!

The much-anticipated IPL 2025 season is set to begin on March 22 and will run until May 25. With new captains, exciting player trades, and thrilling squad revamps, the stage is set for another electrifying season of T20 cricket.    

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to begin on March 22, 2025, and will conclude on May 25, 2025. This season will witness some significant leadership changes, with several franchises appointing new captains.    

ipl-2025-all-teams-captains-squads-playing-11-full-list-here-

Tim Seifert: Shaheen Shah Afridi is called Pakistan's premier bowler, but New Zealand's Tim Seifert stunned everyone as the New Zealand opener hit a flurry of sixes in a single over of the Pakistani left-arm seamer. In the match of 15-15 overs due to rain interruptions, Seifert targeted the former Pakistani captain and scored a total of 26 runs including 4 sixes in his over.
This gave New Zealand a good momentum in the chase of 136 runs. The rest of the batsmen took full advantage of this. However, in the first over of the same match, Tim Seifert could not score even a single run against Shaheens.
The Salman Ali Agha-led outfit batted first and scored 135 runs in 15 overs, at the loss of nine wickets. After that, New Zealand batted and scored 18 runs in two overs. While they did get off to a good start, they were not satified with it and turned on their rampage mode as Siefert targeted Afridi, and in his second over, the Kiwi batter blasted four humongous sixes and took a double. In this way, Shaheen Afridi's over yielded 26 runs. Finn Allen smacked three sixes in the first over of Mohammad Ali.
Here's the video - https://x.com/FanCode/status/1901868929381015976
However, in the opening over of the innings, Afridi had prevented the 30-year-old from scoring a single run. He bowled a maiden over, but then the right-handed batter broke Shaheen Shah Afridi's back in the following over. In this sense, you are defined by the outcome rather than the beginning.
The Blackcaps opener got dismissed off the bowling of Mohammad Ali after hitting 45 runs in 22 balls, but he had already helped his team get in a solid position and thanks to this blistering knock, the hosts went on to win the match by five-wickets and took a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 International Series. The third and the next match will be played on Friday, 21st of March at the iconic Eden Park in Auckland.
Do Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-nz-2nd-t20-new-zealand-crush-pakistan-by-five-wickets-in-the-2nd-t20-take-a-2-0-lead-in-the-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PAK vs NZ 2nd T20: New Zealand crush Pakistan by five wickets in the 2nd T20, take a 2-0 lead in the series</a>

Tim Seifert: Tim Seifert of New Zealand smashed four sixes against Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi | Image: X

Tim Seifert: In the rain-affected second T20I, Pakistan scored 135. New Zealand's chase was ignited by Tim Seifert who, after a maiden over against Shaheen Afridi, smashed 26 runs (4 sixes) in Afridi's next over. Seifert's 45 (22 balls) set the stage for a comfortable five-wicket win for New Zealand, despite Afridi's initial tight over. New Zealand now leads the series 2-0.

Watch: 6,6,6,6! Tim Seifert smashes Shaheen Afridi for 26 runs in an over during PAK vs NZ 2nd T20

watch-6-6-6-6-tim-seifert-smashes-shaheen-afridi-for-26-runs-in-an-over-during-pak-vs-nz-2nd-t20

Pakistan vs New Zealand: Michael Bracewell's New Zealand secured a comfortable five-wicket win over Pakistan in a rain-affected second T20i at the University Oval in Dunedin on Tuesday and this win helped them take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a good total of 136 runs, the Kiwis got their innings off to an explosive start, with opening batters Finn Allen &amp; Tim Seifert stitching a 66-run stand for the opening wicket.
The latter was more aggressive, finding boundaries at will in all parts of the ground as he scored 45 runs in 22 balls before falling to Mohammad Ali. Following Seifert's departure, his partner Finn Allen carried on with this onslaught, adding 21 runs for the second wicket with Mark Chapman but, his entertaining inning of 38 runs in 16 balls came to an end as Jahandad Khan got the better of him, leaving the Michael Bracewell-led side at 87-2 in 6.6 overs.
Southpaw Mark Chapman failed to create any kind of impact with the bat, getting dimissed after scoring just a single run off the bowling of spinner Khushdil Shah. Pacer Haris Rauf then struck in the ninth over, removing all-rounder James Neesham for 14 runs, as the hosts lost their fourth wicket with 97 runs on the board to their name in 8.3 overs.
The duo of Mitch Hay and Daryl Mitchell then built a good partnership of 35 runs for the fifth wicket, bringing their side within touching distance of victory. However, seamer Rauf sent the latter back to the dugout for 14 runs, leaving the Kiwis at 132-5 in 13 overs.
Captain Bracewell then helped his team seal the win as he hit the winning runs alongside Mitch Hay, who remained not out on 21 runs, winning the game by five wickets and 11 deliveries to spare.
For the Shaheens, seamer Haris Rauf dismissed two Kiwi batters, while the trio of Khushdil Shah, Jahandad Khan and Mohammad Ali took one wicket each.
Talking about the batting performance of the Agha Salman-led outfit, they managed to post a decent score of 135 runs in a rain-affected second T20I of the five-match series versus New Zealand on Tuesday, 18th of March at the University Oval in Dunedin, thanks to the brilliant efforts of vice-captain Shadab Khan and skipper Salman Ali Agha. The match in Dunedin was reduced to 15 overs per side due to constant rain interruptions.
After being asked to wear the batting pads by New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell, the visitors suffered an early setback as opening batter Hasan Nawaz was sent back to the pavilion for a second successive duck in the series, falling to pacer Jacob Duffy in the very first over of the match.
The Green Shirts found themselves in further trouble when young pacer Ben Sears got the better of Mohammad Haris (11 runs in 10 balls) in the 4th over, leaving the 2022 T20 World Cup runners-up in a tricky situation at 19-2 in 3.1 overs.The duo of Captain Salman Agha and youngster Irfan Khan then started to stabilize the sinking ship of Pakistan as they got involved in a 31-run stand for the third wicket, easing off some of the early pressure created by the New Zealand bowlers.
Just when it looked like the Pakistanis will be coming back strongly in the match, Kiwis leg spinner Ish Sodhi turned things around in the seventh over of the match, striking twice to send both Khushdil Shah (2 runs) and Irfan Khan (11 runs) packing to the dugout, further increasing the problems of the visiting team as they were reduced to 50-4.
Despite the multiple setbacks, captain Salman carried on with his aggressive intent, constantly finding boundaries to accelerate the score of his team as he played a magnificent knock of 46 runs in 28 balls. He received a decent amount of support from vice-captain Shadab Khan, who contributed 24 valuable runs with the bat and didn't let his skipper feel the pressure.
Must Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-nz-2nd-t20-strongest-playing-11-of-pakistan-for-the-2nd-t20i-versus-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PAK vs NZ 2nd T20: Strongest Playing 11 of Pakistan for the 2nd T20i versus New Zealand</a>
However, much to the dismay of the Pakistani fans, Agha who was looking to bring up his first half-century in T20I Cricket as the captain versus the Kiwis, was dealt a blow as Ben Sears got the better of him as the newly-appointed Pakistan captain mistimed a pull shot and hit the ball straight into the hands of Mark Chapman.
Following the dismissal of the 31-year-old, vice-captain Shadab Khan started playing aggressively, but his time in the middle was cut short by Jacob Duffy as he perished after scoring 26 runs.
Jahandad Khan's dismissal for a duck dealt Pakistan their seventh blow, leaving them reeling at 111-7 in 12.2 overs. Jimmy Neesham dismissed young batsman Abdul Samad, who finished with 11 runs, stopping Pakistan from raising their total. Shaheen Afridi went into bat as the innings was coming to an end and hit a vital 22 runs, helping Pakistan reach a manageable total. Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears, Jimmy Neesham, and Jacob Duffy all took two wickets for New Zealand.
<h2>Playing XI's of both teams</h2>
Pakistan: Irfan Khan, Mohammad Haris (WK), Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Ali.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, James Neesham, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell (Captain), Mitchell Hay (WK), Daryl Mitchell, Jacob Duffy, Zakary Foulkes, Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/shocking-shashank-singh-leaks-inside-details-of-pbks-playing-11-even-before-ipl-2025-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shocking! Shashank Singh leaks inside details of PBKS playing 11 even before IPL 2025</a>

Pakistan vs New Zealand: New Zealand secured an easy win over Pakistan in the 2nd T20 | Image Credits: X (ICC and Nukta Pakistan)

Pakistan vs New Zealand: In a rain-affected second T20I reduced to 15 overs per side in Dunedin, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by five wickets, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, managed to score 135 runs thanks to his 46 and Shadab Khan's 26. However, New Zealand chased down the target in 13.1 overs, propelled by explosive starts from Finn Allen (38) and Tim Seifert (45). Despite Haris Rauf taking two wickets for Pakistan, contributions from Mitch Hay (21*) and captain Michael Bracewell (unspecified score for winning runs) secured a comfortable victory for the hosts

PAK vs NZ 2nd T20: New Zealand crush Pakistan by five wickets in the 2nd T20, take a 2-0 lead in the series

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PAK vs NZ 2nd T20: The Pakistan National Cricket Team, under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha, will be aiming to bounce back in a strong manner and level the ongoing five-match T20 series as they square off versus New Zealand in the second T20I on Tuesday, 18th of March at the University Oval. 
The Green Shirts suffered a difficult start to the five-match series, falling to a nine-wicket defeat in the opening encounter at Christchurch on Sunday. 
The first match exposed the vulnerabilities of the Shaheens in the batting unit, as newcomers Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz struggled to perform well, scoring seven and zero runs respectively. 
Apart from spin bowling all-round Khushdil Shah, who played a 32-run knock, the batting lineup of Pakistan showed little to no resistance. Similarly, their bowling attack didn't live up to expectations either, which might lead to several changes in the bowling department. 
After being put into bat first, the visitors crumbled undrer pressure created by New Zealand's pace bowling duo of Kyle Jamison (3 wickets) and Jacob Duffy (4 wickets) as the former reduced them to 1-3 within the first 2.2 overs of the opening match. 
The situation became even more worse as Shadab Khan, the vice-captain, got dismissed after scoring just three runs, leaving his side struggling at 11-4 in 5 overs. It was looking highly likely that the 2022 T20 World Cup runners-up were heading to their lowest ever score in the fomat but then, Khushdil Shah and Captain Salman Agha began to retaliate. 
They got involved in a partnership of 46 runs for the fifth wicket but that partnership didn't last long as the Pakistani captain perished in the 12th over, while Khushdil got out in the very next over. Salman managed to score 18 runs in 20 balls while the Southpaw, on the other hand, was the top scorer for the visiting team with his knock of 32 runs in 30 deliveries, with the help of three sixes. 
The collapse of the Salman Ali Agha-led outfit didn't stop and eventually, they got all out for an embarrassing score of 91 runs in 18.4 overs with eight ball to spare. 
Michael Bracewell's New Zealand, responded by easily chasing down the 92-run mark, accomplishing it with 59 balls remaining and lost only one wicket.
The Pakistani team management will have to make some serious changes if they want their team to have any chances of making a comeback in the series. 
<h2>Strongest playing 11 of Pakistan for the second T20 International versus New Zealand</h2>
Mohammad Haris (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Abdul Samad, Omai Bin Yousuf, Shadab Khan, Agha Salman (Captain), Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pakistan-bags-unwanted-records-after-humiliating-defeat-versus-new-zealand-in-the-first-t20i/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan bags unwanted records after humiliating defeat versus New Zealand in the first T20I</a>

PAK vs NZ 2nd T20: Pakistan will be aiming to bounce back in the 2nd T20i versus New Zealand | Image: X

PAK vs NZ 2nd T20: Pakistan's cricket team seeks redemption against New Zealand after a crushing nine-wicket defeat. Their batting and bowling faltered, leading to a meager 91-run total. Changes are necessary for Pakistan to level the series.

PAK vs NZ 2nd T20: Strongest Playing 11 of Pakistan for the 2nd T20i versus New Zealand

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Ajinkya Rahane: The 18th season of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) will start on March 22, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the opening encounter. 
KKR became the champions last year by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. This time around though, Iyer will play for Punjab Kings and Kolkata is led by Ajinkya Rahane.
<h2>Ajinkya Rahane on the verge of creating a big record</h2>
KKR's newly appointed captain Ajinkya Rahane is on the verge of scripting history in the opening match of IPL 2025 versus RCB. He is set to become the first Indian player to captain three teams in the IPL. 
He will achieve this feat at the Eden Gardens versus Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the mega auction of IPL 2025, KKR bought Rahane for Rs 1.50 crore. He was later made the captain by the franchise
<h2>Rahane has been the captain of these teams</h2>
Ajinkya made his captaincy debut in the IPL for Rising Pune Super Giants during the 2017 season. He captained the team against Delhi Capitals on April 11, 2017 at the MCA Stadium in Pune. He was then appointed captain of Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2018 and also led the team in the 2019 season before being replaced by Steve Smith.
<h2>Which players have captained three different IPL Teams? </h2>
Now a total of three players have led three teams in IPL. These include Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene along with Australia's Steve Smith. Sangakkara captained Punjab Kings in 13 matches, Deccan Chargers in 25 matches and Sunrisers Hyderabad in nine matches.
Former Australian captain Steven Smith led Pune Warriors India (PWI) in one match of IPL 2012, Rajasthan Royals (RR) kn 27 games and Rising Pune Super Giants (RPS) in 15 encounters. On the other hand, Jayawardene led Punjab Kings in one match, Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 13 matches of IPL 2011 and Delhi Capitals in 16 matches in two seasons (IPL 2012 and 2013).
<h3>Iyer will soon join Rahane's club</h3>
IPL 2024 winning captain Shreyas Iyer will join Rahane in this list when he takes the field for Punjab Kings on Tuesday (March 25). Iyer, who will lead Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, has previously captained Delhi Capitals in 41 IPL matches in three seasons and KKR in 29 matches in two seasons (IPL 2022 and 2024). 
The 30-year-old right-handed batsman was bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He is the only captain in IPL history to play the final with two franchises and in the 2025 season, he would like to become the first captain to win the IPL title with two teams.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/blow-for-kkr-umran-malik-ruled-out-of-ipl-2025-replacement-announced-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blow for KKR! Umran Malik RULED OUT of IPL 2025, replacement announced</a>

Ajinkya Rahane: Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders | Image: X

Ajinkya Rahane: Ajinkya Rahane is set to become the first Indian to captain three IPL teams (Rising Pune Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals, and Kolkata Knight Riders). Shreyas Iyer will soon join him, having captained Delhi Capitals and KKR, now leading Punjab Kings.

IPL 2025: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane on the verge of breaking a huge record versus RCB

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Pakistan vs New Zealand: The Pakistani Men's National Cricket Team registered unwanted records after a humiliating nine-wicket defeat versus New Zealand in the first T20 International of the five-match series at the Hagley Oval on Sunday. 
After being put to bat first by New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell, the Pakistani batters struggled to do well against the well-organized bowling assault of New Zealand and were bowled out for a mere score of 91 runs, with pacer Kyle Jamieson taking key wickets to lead the charge. 
The Shaheens encountered early trouble, losing three wickets after scoring just a single run. Jamieson Wreaked havoc with the ball, picking up three wickets early on in the powerplay. 
The batting lineup of the visitors suffered a collapse, getting bundled for just 91 runs in 18.4 overs
All-rounder Khushdil Shah was the top scorer of Pakistan with 32 runs, followed by newly appointed captain Salman Ali Agha (18 runs) and Jahandad Khan (17 runs). 
<h3>Lowest Totals of Pakistan in T20 International Cricket:</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">74 runs versus Australia, Dubai in 2012</li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">82 runs versus West Indies, Mirpur in 2014</li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">83 runs versus India, Mirpur in 2016</li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">89 runs versus England, Cardiff in 2010</li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">91 runs versus New Zealand, Christchurch in 2025</li>
</ul>
The Michael Bracewell-led New Zealand chased down the target of 92 runs set by the visitors with ease as they secured a nine wicket win with 59 balls to spare. 
This crushing defeat of the Pakistani National Cricket Team also marked their worst one in the shortest format of the game in terms of number of balls remaining. 
Their previous worst performance in the format was a defeat by nine-wickets against Australia in 2018, with 55 deliveries remaining. 
Additionally, the Pakistani team's 91-run total against New Zealand was their lowest in the shorter format, breaking their previous mark of 101 runs set in Wellington in 2016.
<h2>Pakistan’s Lowest Totals in the T20 International format versus New Zealand:</h2>
<ul>
<li>91 runs, Christchurch in 2025</li>
<li>101 runs, Wellington in 2016</li>
<li>105 runs, Wellington in 2018</li>
<li>127 runs, Dubai in 2014</li>
<li>130/7, Christchurch in 2022</li>
</ul>
https://x.com/Rnawaz31888/status/1901091743371603983
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-nz-1st-t20-new-zealand-crush-pakistan-by-nine-wickets-in-the-first-t20-and-take-a-1-0-lead/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PAK vs NZ 1st T20: New Zealand crush Pakistan by nine wickets in the first T20 and take a 1-0 lead</a>

Pakistan vs New Zealand: Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat versus New Zealand in the first T20I | Image: X (ICC and ESPNcricinfo)

Pakistan vs New Zealand: Pakistan suffered a record-breakingly bad T20I loss to New Zealand, bowled out for 91, their lowest score against them, and losing with 59 balls remaining, their worst defeat in terms of balls left.

Pakistan bags unwanted records after humiliating defeat versus New Zealand in the first T20I

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Virat Kohli latest interview: After winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title for India, Team India's dashing batsman Virat Kohli is now ready to dominate IPL 2025. He recently talked about all the matters related to cricket at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit on Saturday.
The 36-year-old revealed during this that he was not happy with the broadcasters discussing his favorite chole-bhature in Delhi. Virat Kohli said that the job of the broadcaster is to talk about the game of cricket, not about what he ate last night.
<h2>Virat Kohli looked unhappy with the discussion about Chole Bhature</h2>
Virat has always been in the news since his Under-19 days. He has been an important part of the Indian batting line-up ever since he made his international debut in 2008. 
He was a chubby-faced youngster when he played his first international match for India in 2008, but now he is one of the fittest players in the world and his transformation is evident to all.
The 36-year-old has not only become fit but has also brought in a fitness culture within Team India and is an inspiration to other players.
<h2>There was a lot of discussion about Virat Kohli's food</h2>
Virat Kohli's lunch order of chilli paneer during a Ranji Trophy match early last month went viral. The former RCB skipper on Saturday made it clear to broadcasters that their coverage needs more nuances and they should not discuss his favourite places to eat in Delhi during the match. 
Virat Kohli's lunch order in a match during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia in 2024 was also a topic of discussion. Broadcasters had constantly focused on his food during the Test match.
<h2>Virat Kohli publicly scolded the broadcasters</h2>
Kohli said at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, "We are working towards making India a country leading in sports. We have a vision. Today we are working at the grassroots level. There should be collective responsibility of all the people involved in this. It is not just about infrastructure or people investing money. It is also about people watching. We need education".
<h3>We need to talk about the game</h3>
Virat Kohli said, "A broadcast show needs to talk about the game, not what I ate for lunch yesterday or my favorite chole-bhature in Delhi. You can't do this in cricket matches. Instead, you can talk about what an athlete is going through".
Virat Kohli is set to return to IPL after a short break after winning the Champions Trophy. He batted brilliantly in the Champions Trophy tournament. It is expected that this batsman will open the innings in IPL with his new partner Phil Salt.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-nz-1st-t20-new-zealand-crush-pakistan-by-nine-wickets-in-the-first-t20-and-take-a-1-0-lead/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PAK vs NZ 1st T20: New Zealand crush Pakistan by nine wickets in the first T20 and take a 1-0 lead</a>

Virat Kohli latest interview: Virat Kohli recently slammed the broadcasters for focussing on his food | Image: X (Cricxtasy)

Virat Kohli latest interview: Virat Kohli criticized sports broadcasters for focusing on his food preferences, like chole-bhature, instead of cricket analysis. He urged them to discuss the game and athletes' experiences, advocating for a more serious approach to sports broadcasting and a focus on developing India's sports culture. He's now preparing for IPL 2025.

'Broadcasters should focus on Cricket & not on Chole Bhature', Virat Kohli slams the broadcasters during an RCB event

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TATA WPL 2025, Orange Cap, Purple Cap, Most Sixes, Most Fours, And Other Awards

MI lifts another trophy! Three seasons of WPL and MI have won two of them. Here are lists of WPL 2025 Awards, Most Runs, Most Wickets and more stats for the season.

Orange Cap and Purple Cap goes to Mumbai Indians, no doubt they were going to lift the title. This post reads lists of WPL 2025 Awards, Most Runs, Most Wickets and more stats for the season.

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NZ vs PAK 2025 T20 series: The wait is finally over the as the first T20i of the five-match series between Pakistan (PAK) and New Zealand (NZ) commenced in Christchurch. The first match is being played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Ōtautahi. Both sides suffered heartbreaks in the Champions Trophy 2025 as the Blackcaps lost to India in the final while Pakistan, got knocked out in the group stage phase itself. 
This ongoing Pakistan's tour of New Zealand 2025 consists of five T20 International matches and three ODI games between 15th of March to the 5th of April. 
Many New Zealand players are focussing on IPL Cricket following the conclusion of the Champions Trophy so the New Zealand selectors have selected a team on youngsters and seven playera from the Champions Trophy squad who didn't get IPL contracts. 
Pakistan, on the other hand, are fielding a completely new look side after the selectors opted to drop seniors Babar Azam &amp; Mohammad Rizwan from the squad. Salman Ali Agha has been named as the skipper for this series. 
<h2>Kyle Jamieson runs riot with the ball in the first T20I</h2>
The Agha Salman-led Pakistan got off to a horrific start in the first T20 International versus New Zealand as they lost opener Mohammad Haris for a duck in the very first over of the match to seamer Kyle Jamieson. Then, immediately after his departure, the Shaheens suffered another blow as Hasan Nawaz perished for a duck as his side got reduced to 0-2 in the second over. 
In the following over, the 30-year-old right arm seamer sent Irfan Khan back to the dugout for a duck before dismissing Shadab Khan for three runs. This came after the Michael Bracewell-led team won the toss and elected to field first. 
This sort of a start was certainly not expected by the Pakistani fans and they would want their team to bounce back from this tough situation as soon as possible. 
https://x.com/DoctorofCricket/status/1901086236086772061?t=dhElaFKblTSnnbdyAsJGwg&amp;s=19
The Green Shirts had a horrific outing in the home ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 as they got eliminated in the group stage phase itself after suffering defeats against New Zealand and arch-rivals India. They are eyeing a fresh start and would hope to build a strong base for the T20 World Cup in 2026.
<h3>Playing XIs of both teams</h3>
Pakistan - Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Muhammed Irfan Khan, Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Khushdil Shah, Abdul Samad, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Ali. 
New Zealand - Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell (Captain), Mitch Hay (WK), Kyle Jamieson, Zac Foulkes, Jacob Duffy and Ish Sodhi.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-nz-1st-t20i-pitch-report-weather-report-and-live-streaming-information/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PAK vs NZ 1st T20i: Pitch Report, Weather Report and Live Streaming Information</a>

NZ vs PAK 2025 T20 series: Pakistan got off to a horrific start in the first T20I versus New Zealand | Image: Cricket Pakistan

NZ vs PAK 2025 T20 Series: The Agha Salman-led Pakistan got off to a horrific start in the first T20 International versus New Zealand as they lost opener Mohammad Haris for a duck in the very first over of the match to seamer Kyle Jamieson. Then, immediately after his departure, the Shaheens suffered another blow as Hasan Nawaz perished for a duck as his side got reduced to 0-2 in the second over. In the following over, the 30-year-old right arm seamer sent Irfan Khan back to the dugout for a duck before dismissing Shadab Khan for three runs. This came after the Michael Bracewell-led team won the toss and elected to field first.

NZ vs PAK 2025 T20 series: The highly anticipated five-match T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand commenced in Christchurch, following both teams' varying fortunes in the Champions Trophy 2025. New Zealand, fielding a relatively young side due to IPL commitments from key players, won the toss and elected to field. Pakistan, under their new captain Salman Ali Agha and with a significantly reshuffled lineup, suffered a catastrophic start, losing four wickets within the first few overs, including three ducks, thanks to a devastating spell from New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson. This early collapse put Pakistan in a precarious position, as they sought to recover from their disappointing Champions Trophy performance and build momentum towards the T20 World Cup 2026.

PAK vs NZ 1st T20: Pakistan off to a horrible start as Kyle Jamieson wreaks havoc, puts them at 11-4

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Twenty20 (T20) Cricket: Cricket T20 series, match, event, news, schedule and all you need to know about t20.