Pakistan seek prompt response as Kiwi quick looks for consistency

New Zealand v Pakistan, Scorecard

New Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha wants to see his side respond quickly to their disappointing nine-wicket loss to New Zealand in Christchurch on Sunday.

Pakistan's tour of New Zealand got off to a poor start when they were dismissed for just 91 runs at Hagley Oval and the Black Caps wasted little time in chasing down that small target for the loss of just one wicket.

The match was Salman's first in charge as captain, with Pakistan featuring three debutants in their starting XI and the team missing regular performers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam in what was a new-look side.

But Salman was making no excuses for the performance and wants to see an improved effort from Pakistan when the series continues in Dunedin on Tuesday.

"It was obviously difficult, they were bowling in the right area and there was swing and seam for them as well," Salman said after the match.

"But we didn't bat up to the mark. Always in New Zealand, the new ball does a bit and we have the bowlers who can do that too. We don't have much time. We need to regather as quickly as we can."

WATCH: Salman in action against New Zealand at Champions Trophy 2025

Injury-plagued New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson was one of the chief destroyers during the opening match of the series, with the tall right-armer collecting career best figures of 3/8 while picking up the Player of the Match award.

Jamieson picked up the wicket of Mohammad Haris during his opening over and then dismissed Irfan Khan and Shadab Khan in quick succession to help reduce the tourists to just 11/4 inside five overs.

It was Jamieson's first T20I on home soil in more than four years and comes on the back of a horrid run courtesy of a nagging back injury and a return to international cricket at the recent ICC Champions Trophy 2025 when he replaced fellow quick Lockie Ferguson in the Kiwis' squad.

Jamieson burst onto the international scene when he was adjudged Player of the Match for New Zealand in their victory in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final against India in Southampton in 2021, but the 30-year-old has struggled for continuity since due to his back concern.

WATCH: Jamieson in action against India in 2021 WTC Final

With more white-ball fixtures at home against Pakistan scheduled across the next month, Jamieson is hoping to use the upcoming contests to further showcase his capabilities at the top level.

“It’s been a long last year and a long couple of years, really,” Jamieson told TVNZ.

“It’s just nice to be on the park and nice to be fit and healthy.”