Pakistan players were seen breaking their Ramadan fast during the drinks break of the third T20I against New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday. With the support staff coming on the field with fluids, the visiting players were seen consuming them during the break as a video of the same surfaced on social media.
After ducks in the last two games and with Pakistan trailing the five-game series by 0-2, opener Hasan Nawaz exploded as New Zealand set them a mammoth 205 to chase down. The right-handed batter slammed a century only off 44 balls as the tourists kept the series alive by gunning down the target only in 16 overs.
Pakistan's bowlers deserve equal credit as they pulled it back brilliantly at the death as Haris Rauf led the way with figures of 4-0-29-3. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Abbas Afridi snared two scalps each.
Meanwhile, below is the video of Pakistan players breaking their fast as drinks break was called for after the fifth over of NZ's innings:
"I had so much backing and I am so grateful to my captain" - Hasan Nawaz
Having scored an unbeaten 45-ball 105*, the 22-year-old was inevitably the Player of the Match. The youngster massively credited Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan for encouraging him despite scoring ducks in successive games.
"The way I got out in first two matches, I was very disheartened, but captain and Shadab supported me, told me I am a match winning player and that helped me. I just had in my mind that I need to score a single first in international cricket and then after that I felt relaxed and the pressure was released. I had so much backing and I am so grateful to my captain."
Pakistan and New Zealand will play in the fourth T20I on March 23 at the Mount Maunganui.
