WATCH: Babar Azam smashes a magnificent half century against New Zealand, struck a fan with a blistering six

In a disappointing turn of events for the Pakistan cricket team, they suffered a 45-run defeat in the third T20I in Dunedin, losing the series in the process. Questions loom over captain Shaheen Afridi and head coach Mohammad Hafeez as they face scrutiny for the team's lacklustre performance.

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Despite the team's struggles, one positive note came from Babar Azam, who scored a commendable 58 off 37 balls, featuring eight fours and a six. Unfortunately, the six hits by Babar inadvertently caused an injury to a spectator in the stands.

Here is the video:

aww such a cutie😩.he was actually feeling bad for that man❤️
Watta a six Babar#NZvPAK #PAKvsNZ #BabarAzam𓃵 pic.twitter.com/QULvI9t0n0

— Wajeeha (@itswajeehaa) January 17, 2024

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Babar's powerful pull shot ended up striking a fan, who eagerly approached to catch the ball. The incident, occurring in the chilly weather of Dunedin, visibly affected Babar, who expressed concern for the injured spectator. Fortunately, the injury, while painful, was not serious.

Opting to field after winning the toss for the third consecutive time, Pakistan aimed to chase down a target, considering the challenges of defending on smaller New Zealand grounds. However, their execution fell short once again, with New Zealand's Finn Allen dominating the innings with a spectacular century, scoring 137 runs off 62 balls, including five fours and an impressive 16 sixes.

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Can Pakistan turn the tide in the upcoming games?

The Pakistani bowlers, particularly Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, faced a relentless onslaught, conceding 60 and a significant number of runs, respectively. Zaman Khan and Mohammad Wasim Jr. also struggled, leaking 72 runs collectively in their eight overs.

As Pakistan heads to Christchurch for the remaining two T20Is, they find themselves in a precarious position, needing to win both matches to salvage their pride in the series. The team faces the daunting task of regaining momentum and delivering exceptional performances in the upcoming contests.

Meanwhile, the management, led by Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez, will have to address the evident shortcomings and strategize effectively to avoid further setbacks. The road to redemption for the Men in Green appears challenging, requiring a collective effort to reverse their fortunes in the remaining matches against New Zealand.