The much-anticipated Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-Series final at the National Stadium in Karachi saw a dramatic moment as Pakistan suffered a major setback with the dismissal of captain Babar Azam. The home crowd, which had been building momentum with the captain’s steady innings, was left in stunned silence as Nathan Smith executed a brilliant caught-and-bowled dismissal to remove the star batter for 29 runs off 34 deliveries.
Pakistan, after opting to bat first, started cautiously but lost wickets at crucial intervals. The pressure was evident when Saud Shakeel fell earlier to Michael Bracewell, who clean-bowled him for just 8 runs. With Babar now back in the pavilion, Pakistan found themselves at 54/3 in the 12th over, placing them in a precarious position against a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack.
Salman Agha, the player of the match in Pakistan’s last game, has now arrived at the crease, joining Mohammad Rizwan. The duo had played a heroic match-winning stand just days ago, rescuing Pakistan from a difficult position. The big question remains—can they do it again? With the New Zealand bowlers maintaining tight lines and Pakistan reeling from early losses, the upcoming partnership could define the course of the final.
As the pressure mounts, Pakistan will need resilience from their middle order, while New Zealand will look to keep the momentum in their favor. Fans across the stadium wait anxiously to see if Rizwan and Salman can stabilize the innings or if the Black Caps will continue their dominance.