Azhar Mahmood considers adjusting batting order following Pakistan's loss to NZ

Pakistan head coach Azhar Mahmood hinted at potential adjustments to the team's batting order following their defeat to New Zealand in the third T20I on Sunday.

Speaking in the post-match presser, Mahmood was asked whether the top three positions in Pakistan’s batting order are set in stone. He responded that while the top three are generally fixed, the team may look to adjust batting positions based on matchups in future games.

“I have said this before as well that your top three is fixed but after that we have to look at matchups and decide accordingly. In this match [third T20I] we wanted Rizwan to get some time in the middle since the first match was washed out due to rain. But going forward we will be flexible as far as the batting positions are concerned since one number is not set for a particular player,” Mahmood said.

Pakistan's top three batting order consisted of Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan in the second and third T20I.

Mahmood acknowledged that Pakistan fell short of an ideal total in the third T20I, finishing 15 to 20 runs behind the par score.

"We were 15 to 20 runs short based on the par score. We started quite well in the first six overs and scored around 54 runs. Shadab played very well towards the end. But I think we lost momentum in the middle overs as the ball was gripping a bit,” he further added.

It is worth noting that New Zealand's Mark Chapman played a key role in the visitors' victory by seven wickets, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. The remaining two matches of the series will take place on April 25 and 27 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.