In an odd moment during the third T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand, play stopped as the floodlights suddenly failed, just as New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy was ready for the key ball to Pakistan batter Tayyab Tahir. In Pakistan's innings, the incident was seen during the 39th over. Pakistan had a score of 218/8 when they were chasing a steep target, requiring 47 runs from 21 balls. Tayyab was batting quite confidently on 33 from 30 balls, along with tailender Akif Javed at the exact other end. Duffy, having figures of 1 for 39, began all during his run-up on just the seventh ball from his spell when, quite literally, everything went dark.

The blackout, quite sudden, stunned all of the people—players, fans, and commentators alike. Duffy attained quite his delivery stride. Then the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium floodlights cut out, plunging the field in darkness. Both of the batters, along with the bowler, instinctively stopped themselves, with complete confusion coupled with laughter spreading across the entire ground.

This game keeps on giving 😭 pic.twitter.com/5Th8U37sRm

— psyf (@PsyfeR888) April 5, 2025

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Due to one unforeseen issue, a pause occurred while stagehands were fixing all of the lights. During that short break, players all gathered together and chatted, while social media then exploded with various reactions to that surreal scene. The fans joked of how the pressure of tense final overs was a lot to handle. Even those lights could not quite handle those tense final overs. Fortunately, this issue was absolutely resolved promptly, and then play resumed without more hiccups. Even though it did not quite change up the final outcome, the moment has now earned its place in cricketing folklore.

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Khushdil Shah confronts fans taunting Pakistan team after their dismal performance

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand ended not only in a disappointing series loss but also amid controversy, as all-rounder Khushdil Shah became involved in a heated exchange with fans after the third ODI in Mount Maunganui. Clearly frustrated, Khushdil had to be restrained by teammates and security personnel after reacting to taunts from the crowd.

The altercation occurred shortly after Pakistan’s 43-run defeat, which sealed a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series, following a 4-1 loss in the preceding T20Is. Eyewitnesses reported that some fans directed personal and provocative remarks at the players as they exited the field. In response, an angered Khushdil turned back to confront the crowd, continuing the verbal exchange despite attempts by others to calm the situation.

English cricket is likely to undergo captaincy changes in both shorter formats, with swashbuckling batsman Harry Brook the most probable new T20I skipper. Captain of England’s ODI team, though, could either be Brook or the one with lots of experience, Ben Stokes.

Brook to Replace in T20Is

Harry Brook is reportedly England's pick to be the new T20I captain. The 25-year-old is one of the names on the lips of English cricket fans due to his aggressive batting style and his skills displayed when the situation calls. England goes into the T20 World Cup with the appointment of Brook, which obviously means that they are looking to play with more intent and without fear.

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As it is, Brook has been playing a frontline role in England's T20 team and has made an impact in the world through his various domestic and franchise performances. Awards and recognition have also been coming his way for his excellence in leadership, and because of that, he has been named as the next captain to Jos Buttler if he leaves his place eventually.

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ODI Captaincy: Brook vs Stokes

While it may seem that Brook has got the T20I captaincy already, ODI captaincy is a different story. Ben Stokes is not out of the picture of becoming the ODI captain of England; he currently serves his national team in Test formats and is still determined to lead it as a senior and recognised player in his upcoming games in the World Cup and the Ashes series.

🚨 BROOK & STOKES AS CAPTAINS. 🚨

- Harry Brook set to become England's T20i captain.

- Brook or Ben Stokes could become England's ODI captain. (Telegraph). pic.twitter.com/EB8hzoo4zG

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 3, 2025

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The choice of Ben Stokes as England ODI captain would still be sensible considering that he led his country to a historic World Cup victory in 2019 and contributed to the other important successes of the team in different formats. On the other hand, Stokes recently declared his retirement from ODIs, which implies doubts about him as the long-term captain. If a long-term leader is essential, Brook would be the perfect choice, ensuring that the 50-over match continues under new dynamics among players.

England’s Leadership Transition

England is in a dilemma with the future of Buttler as the limited-overs captain being unclear and Eoin Morgan still highly revered for his leadership. If they now hand the baton to Brook to lead the limited-overs format for both white-ball and red-ball, this will be where it all begins, but handing Stokes the ODI reins would provide stability and experience.

As England’s cricket board deliberates, all eyes will be on the official announcement that could shape the team’s white-ball future for years to come.

New Zealand has again demonstrated their superiority over Pakistan, taking the ODI series 2-0* after thrashing them 4-1 in the T20I series. What's more impressive? They did it without 11 of their most important players!

No Big Names? No Problem!

New Zealand was missing some of their biggest stars:

• No Kane Williamson
• No Mitchell Santner
• No Rachin Ravindra
• No Devon Conway
• No Lockie Ferguson
• No Glenn Phillips
• No Matt Henry
• No Kyle Jamieson
• No Tom Latham
• No Will Young
• No Ish Sodhi

Despite this, the Black Caps dominated Pakistan across formats, demonstrating the depth and power of their cricketing system.

Pakistan Left Pondering Answers

Pakistan entered the series with a close to full-strength team but couldn't keep up with New Zealand's intensity and execution. The T20I series was concluded in a 4-1 thrashing, and now the ODIs have been concluded in New Zealand's favor as well.

This overawing performance is indicative of New Zealand's phenomenal team culture and depth of talent pool. Even with their superstars missing, they still manage to win.

Pakistan, however, will have to look back on these crushing losses and work on how to regain their momentum.

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T20I Series: A 4-1 Thrashing

Pakistan, with their near-strength team, had great expectations of victorious wins in the T20I series. New Zealand's second-string team crushed them 4-1, revealing glaring gaps in Pakistan's game.

ODI Series: Kiwis Seal the Trophy 2-0

The ODIs were also on the same page. New Zealand was merciless, dominating Pakistan with intelligent strategies and clinical performances. Even without their lead stars, they appeared much stronger than Pakistan, who fought with both bat and ball.

What This Means for New Zealand

This series victory is an exhibition of the solidity and robustness of New Zealand's cricket structure. Despite lacking their established players, they have managed to secure victories comfortably. Their capacity to develop young cricketers and sustain a stable team culture is one of the largest explanations of their ongoing performance in international cricket.

What This Means for Pakistan

This is a wake-up call for Pakistani cricket. Beating a decimated New Zealand team in both T20Is and ODIs is a serious cause for concern. With their full-strength team, they should have done better, but instead, they seemed clueless. Their batting was inconsistent, and their bowling was ineffective.

New Zealand has again humiliated Pakistan on their home soil, even though they were missing 11 of their main players. This overawing performance says a lot about their cricket set-up, whereas Pakistan has to return to the drawing board and sort out problems before their next major challenge.

Joe Root has confirmed he is not in the running to become England’s next white-ball captain following Jos Buttler’s resignation after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old batter, who led England’s Test team from 2017 to 2022, stated that his time as captain is over.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Root said, “I think that ship has sailed. I’ve done my time as a captain in an England shirt. I’m sure whoever gets the opportunity will be extremely proud and do a brilliant job.”

While Root never captained England in limited-overs formats, he returned to the ODI side this year and finished as one of the top performers in the Champions Trophy. He was England’s leading batter in the tournament, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer overall, and nearly took his team over the line in their final match against Afghanistan with a gritty century.

Despite his personal success, England endured a disappointing campaign, failing to reach the semifinals. Jos Buttler stepped down as captain shortly before their final group game against South Africa. Since then, England has yet to announce a new leader for the ODI side.

Among the contenders, vice-captain Harry Brook is currently seen as the front-runner. However, managing director Rob Key has hinted that Ben Stokes could be considered for the white-ball captaincy, potentially uniting both red and white-ball leadership under one figure. Brendon McCullum has not ruled out the option of having separate captains for ODIs and T20Is.

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Root acknowledged England’s recent struggles but remains confident in the squad’s potential. “We didn’t play anywhere near what we’re capable of. But there’s so much talent and so much more to come. This is a good opportunity to reset and move forward as a group.”

Despite not being a regular in England’s T20I squad since 2019, Root's form in franchise cricket has drawn attention. He impressed in this year’s SA20 tournament with the Paarl Royals, scoring 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 140.20.

Looking ahead, Root turned his focus to the upcoming Test summer, starting with a five-match series against India at home from June 20. The series will kick off the new cycle of the World Test Championship.

“India coming over means there’s no hiding place. It’s a long series, and we’ll need to deliver match-winning performances consistently,” Root said.

With Root stepping aside from the leadership conversation, England’s white-ball future now rests on the next generation to take the team forward.

The second T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on March 26, 2025, at Sky Stadium, Wellington. Having dominated the 5TH T20I, New Zealand will seek to increase their lead, whereas Pakistan will hope to recover and tie the series

Match Details: NZ vs PAK 5th T20I

• Match Date: March 26, 2025
• Venue:  Sky Stadium, Wellington
• Match Time: 11:45 AM IST (Indian Standard Time)

Live Streaming & Broadcast Details

Cricket fans can watch the match live through various broadcasting platforms:

For Viewers in India

• TV Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
• Live Streaming: Sony LIV app and website, FanCode app and website

For Viewers in Pakistan

• TV Broadcast: PTV Sports
• Live Streaming: ARY ZAP and Tamasha app

For Viewers in New Zealand

• TV Broadcast: Sky Sport NZ
• Live Streaming: Sky Go and Spark Sport

ALSO READ:NZ vs PAK Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win 5th T20I, Preview & Analysis

NZ vs PAK Predicted Playing XI

PAK Playing XI

Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Mohammad Haris, Usman Khan, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem

NZ Playing XI

Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay/ Tim Seifert, Jimmy Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Will O Rourkee, Ben Sears

The second T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on March 23, 2025, at  Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. Having dominated the 4TH T20I, New Zealand will seek to increase their lead, whereas Pakistan will hope to recover and tie the series

Match Details: NZ vs PAK 4th T20I

• Match Date: March 23, 2025
• Venue:  Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
• Match Time: 11:45 AM IST (Indian Standard Time)

Live Streaming & Broadcast Details

Cricket fans can watch the match live through various broadcasting platforms:

For Viewers in India

• TV Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
• Live Streaming: Sony LIV app and website, FanCode app and website

For Viewers in Pakistan

• TV Broadcast: PTV Sports
• Live Streaming: ARY ZAP and Tamasha app

For Viewers in New Zealand

• TV Broadcast: Sky Sport NZ
• Live Streaming: Sky Go and Spark Sport

ALSO READ:NZ vs PAK Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | 4th T20I, Preview & Analysis

NZ vs PAK Predicted Playing XI

PAK Playing XI

Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Mohammad Haris, Usman Khan, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem

NZ Playing XI

Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay/ Tim Seifert, Jimmy Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Will O Rourkee, Ben Sears

The second T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on March 21, 2025, at  Eden Park, Auckland. Having dominated the first T20I, New Zealand will seek to increase their lead, whereas Pakistan will hope to recover and tie the series

Match Details: NZ vs PAK 2nd T20I

• Match Date: March 21, 2025
• Venue:  Eden Park, Auckland
• Match Time: 11:45 AM IST (Indian Standard Time)

Live Streaming & Broadcast Details

Cricket fans can watch the match live through various broadcasting platforms:

For Viewers in India

• TV Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
• Live Streaming: Sony LIV app and website, FanCode app and website

For Viewers in Pakistan

• TV Broadcast: PTV Sports
• Live Streaming: ARY ZAP and Tamasha app

For Viewers in New Zealand

• TV Broadcast: Sky Sport NZ
• Live Streaming: Sky Go and Spark Sport

ALSO READ:NZ VS PAK 2ND T20I Match Live Streaming: Where & How to Watch on the tv and mobile online

NZ vs PAK Predicted Playing XI

PAK Playing XI

Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Mohammad Haris, Usman Khan, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem

NZ Playing XI

Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay/ Tim Seifert, Jimmy Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Will O Rourkee, Ben Sears

The second T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on March 18, 2025, at University Oval, Dunedin. Having dominated the first T20I, New Zealand will seek to increase their lead, whereas Pakistan will hope to recover and tie the series

Match Details: NZ vs PAK 2nd T20I

• Match Date: March 18, 2025
• Venue: University Oval, Dunedin
• Match Time: 6:45 AM IST (Indian Standard Time)

Live Streaming & Broadcast Details

Cricket fans can watch the match live through various broadcasting platforms:

For Viewers in India

• TV Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
• Live Streaming: Sony LIV app and website, FanCode app and website

For Viewers in Pakistan

• TV Broadcast: PTV Sports
• Live Streaming: ARY ZAP and Tamasha app

For Viewers in New Zealand

• TV Broadcast: Sky Sport NZ
• Live Streaming: Sky Go and Spark Sport

ALSO READ:NZ vs PAK Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | 2nd T20I, Preview & Analysis

NZ vs PAK Predicted Playing XI

PAK Playing XI

Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Mohammad Haris, Usman Khan, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem

NZ Playing XI

Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay/ Tim Seifert, Jimmy Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Will O Rourkee, Ben Sears

The second T20I of the Pakistan and New Zealand series will take place on Tuesday, with the match toss at 6:15 am (IST) and the game at 6:45 am (IST). The match will be played at the University Oval in Dunedin. The match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and will also be streamed live on the Sony LIV and Fancode website and apps.

Pakistan's Predicted Playing XI:

Mohammad Haris (Wicketkeeper), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Shadab Khan (Vice-Captain), Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed.

There are also debutants such as Hasan Nawaz, who can be expected to open the batting with Mohammad Haris. Abdul Samad, who has aggressive batting skills, could take Khushdil Shah's place in the lower order.

New Zealand's Predicted Playing XI:

Tim Seifert (Wicketkeeper), Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay (Wicketkeeper),Michael Bracewell (Captain), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.

New Zealand will probably have the same team that won the first game so convincingly

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Team Outlook:

New Zealand:  Following their comprehensive victory in the first game, New Zealand will look to take the series further in their favor. Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, and Michael Bracewell are likely to carry on with their impressive show.

Pakistan: Under pressure to even the series, Pakistan will most likely tinker with their lineup. Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, and Shadab Khan will have to rise to the challenge to take on the Black Caps.

The fans can expect a thrilling match as Pakistan looks to redeem themselves, while New Zealand hopes to continue their dominance in the series.

Pakistan will tour New Zealand for a T20I series, and the selection committee is likely to bring some new faces along with seasoned players. The team has a combination of all-rounders, pace bowlers, and hard-hitting batters.
The team has players such as Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Sufiyan Muqeem, along with new faces like Irfan Khan and Jahandad Khan. Following is the likely squad:

Likely Squad

🚨Pakistan's likely T20I squad for New Zealand tour.

- Shadab, Haris, Sufiyan, Arafat, Irfan Khan, Zaman Khan, Wasim Jr, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Agha Salman, Abrar, Omair Bin Yousuf, Khushdil, Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, Abdul Samad, Akif Javed and Khawaja Nafay. pic.twitter.com/gKNp0Uci1s

— Salman 🇵🇰 (@SalmanAsif2007) March 2, 2025

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This team represents Pakistan's plan to strike a balance between inexperience and experience. Having youth players included means that the management has the strategy of developing future stars well before big events.
Pakistan will be looking for a good outing against New Zealand, and people cannot wait to witness how this team fares