The situation for the Pakistan cricket team keeps getting worse. Led by Salman Ali Agha, they lost the second T20I in the five-match series against New Zealand by five wickets, putting them on the brink of another series defeat. After the match, pacer Haris Rauf spoke to the media and was asked about the backlash the younger players are facing.

Pakistan performed better than in the first T20I, but it still wasn’t enough, as the Kiwis secured another solid victory. The hosts won the rain-shortened match by five wickets, successfully chasing down a target of 136 in just 13.1 overs.

The batting display from Pakistan was lacking, with only Salman Ali Agha showing real fight, scoring 46 runs off 28 balls. His contribution was vital in helping Pakistan reach 135/9 in their 15 overs.

Haris Rauf, who took two wickets, mentioned that some people back home seem to be waiting for Pakistan to lose so they can criticize the players.

"It’s become pretty normal in Pakistan to criticize players. These are young guys getting their chance. If you look at other teams, their youngsters are given the freedom to play," Rauf said during the post-match press conference.

"They get 10-15 games to find their footing. It’s tough when you first step into international cricket, and that’s just how it is. People are just waiting for us to fail. Everyone has their opinions," he added.

We're putting in our all

Before the T20I series with New Zealand, Pakistan was eliminated from the ICC Men's Champions Trophy during the group stage, suffering defeats against both New Zealand and India. They also faced an early exit from the group stage of the ICC Men's World Cup 2023 and the T20 World Cup 2024.

Additionally, Pakistan lost a Test series at home to Bangladesh. The constant changes in Pakistan cricket have led to numerous shifts in captaincy, PCB leadership, and coaching staff.

Haris Rauf mentioned that the team is putting in maximum effort, with a strong emphasis on supporting the younger players. Notably, Pakistan left out Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam for the T20I series against New Zealand.

"We're doing our best and concentrating on team development. As senior players, we're here to inspire the younger guys and guide them on how to navigate international cricket," he stated.

Pakistan and New Zealand are set to clash in the third T20I on Friday, March 21. If the visitors lose this match, they will hand the Kiwis an unbeatable lead in the series.

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