Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has shed light on the reason behind Pakistan’s loss against West Indies in the second ODI of the three-match series. The defeat has left the series level at 1-1, with the decider scheduled for Tuesday.
Pakistan had earlier claimed victory in the first ODI by five wickets. In the rain-affected second match, they managed to post 171-7 in 37 overs. However, the West Indies chased the target comfortably, winning by five wickets.
A key factor in the loss, Rizwan admitted, was the performance of Pakistan’s part-time bowlers. Saim Ayub and Salman Agha, who were used as the fifth bowling option, conceded a total of 66 runs in seven overs without taking a wicket. This allowed West Indies to maintain control during their chase.
“You could say our fifth bowler gave away too many runs,” Rizwan said after the match. He defended the duo’s overall track record, pointing out that both have delivered strong performances in the past. “Saim didn’t have the best day today, but he was good in the T20Is. That’s part of the game,” he added.
Rizwan also highlighted the challenge of unpredictable weather. The match saw several rain delays, and the actual conditions differed from forecasts. “Honestly, the weather forecast has been completely different from expectations, and it’s hard to read,” he noted.
Looking ahead to the final match, the Pakistan skipper said the team would keep their options open. The playing XI will be decided after assessing pitch and weather conditions on the day.
Pakistan had recently won the T20I series against West Indies 2-1. A win in the upcoming ODI will be crucial for sealing the limited-overs tour on a high note.
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