ISLAMABAD: As the tri-nation series between Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa concluded, the host nation Pakistan faced a disappointing defeat in the final at the hands of the Black Caps, who triumphed by five wickets to seize the title. Regrettably, Pakistan’s performance throughout the tournament left much to be desired, with merely one win to their name.
As the Pakistan team prepares for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, starting this month in Pakistan, the tri-nation series served as both a litmus test and a vital wake-up call.
While a handful of players dazzled with standout performances, others struggled with inconsistency, prompting fans and analysts to scrutinize the contributions of each player in light of the team’s overall difficulties.
Let’s analyse the performances of key players, highlighting their statistical achievements and the impact they had on Pakistan’s journey during the series.
Fakhar Zaman: 8/10
135 Runs, Average: 45, Highest Score: 84
Fakhar, making his return to the national team, kicked off with an electrifying 84 runs off just 69 balls against New Zealand. He followed that performance with a brisk 41 from 28 deliveries against South Africa.
Though Fakhar stumbled in the final match, he gained valuable match experience leading up to the ICC Champions Trophy. His striking rate of 120.53 showcased flashes of the explosive power-hitter he is renowned for.
Babar Azam: 3/10
62 Runs, Average: 20.66, Highest Score: 29
Babar had not taken the field as an opener in ODIs for the past decade, but with Pakistan opting against selecting a substitute opener, the responsibility fell onto his shoulders.
Unfortunately, he struggled to settle in, failing to surpass the 30-run mark on any of his three attempts, each time succumbing during the powerplay.
Saud Shakeel: 1/10
23 Runs, Average: 11.50, Highest Score: 15
Pakistan is on a quest to identify a suitable No. 3 batsman following Babar’s elevation in the batting order. Saud became the second contender to step into this crucial role during the tri-series, but unfortunately, the outcome fell short of expectations.
Kamran Ghulam: 1/10
18 Runs, Average: 18, Highest Score: 18
Ghulam took to the field for the opening match, with Pakistan holding its breath in anticipation that he might mirror Babar’s brilliance at the No. 3 spot. He managed only 18 runs off 32 balls, leading to his exclusion from the subsequent two matches.
Mohammad Rizwan: 8/10
171 Runs, Average: 85.50, Highest Score: 122*
The captain took centre stage in the memorable pursuit against South Africa, forging a monumental partnership with Salman Agha.
With an impressive score of 122 not out, he has solidified his status as one of Pakistan’s most reliable batsmen in recent times. Yet, his unclear strategy regarding his batting order resulted in a setback in points.
Salman Agha: 9.5/10
219 Runs, Average: 73, Highest Score: 134
Agha teamed up with Rizwan to take on the Proteas, delivering a stunning performance with 134 runs off just 103 balls as Pakistan successfully chased down a formidable target of 353 with an over to spare.
In the two preceding matches, he showed promise with scores of 45 and 40, but surely he wished to build on those foundations and transform them into more substantial innings.
Tayyab Tahir: 3/10
72 Runs, Average: 36, Highest Score: 38
Tahir breezed past the 30-run mark on two occasions in three matches but fell short of surpassing 40, joining the ranks of yet another Pakistani player unable to build on a promising beginning.
Khushdil Shah: 1/10
22 Runs, Average: 11, Highest Score: 15
1 wicket with an average of 127 runs, Best bowling inning: 1-39
Khushdil was another player making his return to the ODI arena, yet his performance failed to leave a lasting impression.
Faheem Ashraf: 2/10
22 Runs with an average of 22 runs, Highest Score: 22, 0 wickets
Faheem, selected for the grand finale, made headlines due to his remarkable List-A achievements over the past two years, which paved the way for his triumphant return. In his latest outing, he contributed 22 runs off 21 balls while coming in at No. 8, and with the ball, he bowled a brief spell of 2.2 overs, conceding 16 runs.
Shaheen Afridi: 6/10
6 wickets with an average of 33.16 runs, best bowling inning: 3-88
The tri-series witnessed an abundance of impressive runs, resulting in bowlers facing a steeper economy rate. Shaheen emerged as the leading wicket-taker, sharing the spotlight with William O’Rourke, as they both claimed a wicket every 29 balls.
Abrar Ahmed: 4/10
3 wickets with an average of 57 runs, best bowling inning: 2-41
In the opening match against New Zealand, Abrar may not have received much support from his teammates, but he showcased his skill by delivering a masterclass in precision bowling.
Naseem Shah: 3/10
3 wickets with an average of 60.33 runs, best bowling inning: 2-43
Naseem’s outing was forgettable and costly in the series, leaving a mark that wasn’t quite favourable.
Haris Rauf: 7/10
1 wicket with an average of 23, best bowling inning: 1-23
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In the opening match, Haris dazzled with his bowling, delivering 6.2 overs before he had to exit the scene due to an unfortunate injury. His fiery pace had already unsettled the batsmen, as he allowed a mere 23 runs at an impressive economy of 3.63.
However, once he departed, South Africa seized the opportunity, amassing 139 runs in the final 13 overs without any other bowler to apply the necessary pressure.
Mohammad Hasnain: 1/10
No wicket
Hasnain took to the field against South Africa, but his spell of eight overs yielded no wickets and saw him surrender 72 runs.
