Pakistan cricket team recently faced a lot of criticism for its group-stage exit from the home Champions Trophy 2025. The Men in Green lost their Group A games against New Zealand and arch-rivals while their fixture against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.

In the wake of the Champions Trophy debacle, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shuffled the decks once more for the ongoing white-ball tour of New Zealand. The likes of Babar Azam and keeper Mohammad Rizwan were sidelined from the T20I squad, with Salman Ali Agha being named the new captain in the shortest format.

However, the result hasn’t changed with Pakistan losing the first two matches of the five-T20I series against New Zealand in Christchurch and Dunedin.

After a five-wicket defeat in the rain-curtailed second T20I, pacer Haris Rauf claimed that it is very common in Pakistan to criticize their players and people of the nation wait to see them lose, taking a massive dig at his countrymen.

“It is now a common thing in Pakistan to criticise players. These are young players who have been given an opportunity. If you look at the rest of the teams, the youngsters are given full freedom," Rauf said while speaking at the post-match press conference.

“They are given 10-15 games. When you first enter international cricket, you struggle. That goes without saying. It is now common in Pakistan. People are waiting to see us lose," he added.

Rauf said that his side is giving it their all and his focus remains on helping the young players in the squad.

“We are giving our best and focusing on building the team. As seniors, we are motivating the youngsters and how to go about things in international cricket," he remarked.

Meanwhile, the Kiwi openers went on a six-hitting spree to rout Pakistan by five wickets and go 2-0 up in the T20I series. The hosts chased down the target of 136 with 11 deliveries to spare in Dunedin.

In order to stay alive in the series, Pakistan are facing a must-win situation in the third T20I, scheduled for March 21 in Auckland.