With the score 311 to 8 and Saud Shakeel playing a determined hand, the left-handed player looked set to lead Pakistan to a draw against New Zealand in the opening test. At this point, however, the hosts caused an upset when skipper Babar Azam waved to explain the innings, giving New Zealand a target of 137 in 15 overs. The match then ended in a stalemate when his side scored 61–1 for him away, so the referee decided to abandon the match due to bad lighting on the final day of the match.
Mr Babar said Pakistan’s intention was to bet on victory, but that seemed unlikely, with Michael in the first over despite losing Bracewell to Devon and Conway. Tom Latham’s duo posted his 57th streak unbeaten streak and put pressure on his team at home. The Pakistani captain then brought two sailors into the attack, and the referee soon decided that the light was not enough.
“Saud was a little shocked when we explained. He thought we were betting on a draw,” Babbar said. “We said we aim for results. We took risks, you never know. It’s cricket. everything can happen. Saud and [Mohammad] Wasim his junior partnership was very important to us as it put us in the game. It gave me the idea that we could declare that you guys had fun and surprised everyone. I figured I would take the risk because anything could happen.
“I sent a message just before explaining to tell the thugs to assess the situation and play accordingly.Sometimes you have to make bold decisions and take risks.As a team, And as captain, I’m trying. Even if I can’t guarantee results, I plan for them,” he added. Babar also said Pakistan could take plenty of positives from the game, with the home side struggling 100-4 on two occasions. However, Imam-ul-Haq, Shakeel and Sarfraz Ahmed made important contributions. Lower-order hitters – Mohammad Wasim Jr. (57 to 43 balls) and Mir Hamza (3 balls instead of 34) – kept Shaquille company.
“It doesn’t mean you have to play another cricket. We have to do things session by session and day by day. We have to play aggressively offensively. we are working on it. Everyone has a different game and mindset. I have to admire the way New Zealand play and rule. “We lost three wickets early on but then came back. Salman Ali Agha deserves credit for hitting the tail [in the first innings] and putting us in a good position. Imam [ ul-Haq], Sarfaraz [Ahmed], and Saud Shakeer’ formed a partnership in the second inning with Patch, and Wasim chimed in as well, so the batting side did pretty well.