Pakistan captain Babar Azam shouldered the blame for his team’s unexpected loss to the United States in a thrilling Super Over finish at the T20 World Cup. In a candid post-match press conference, Azam pinpointed missed opportunities and a lack of performance across all aspects of the game as the key factors in the defeat.
Early Wickets and Missed Momentum
Pakistan’s batting woes began early, losing three wickets within the first six overs for a meagre score of 26. Babar Azam and Shadab Khan attempted to rebuild the innings with a crucial 72-run partnership. However, according to Babar, Shadab’s dismissal marked a turning point.
“When Shadab and I started the partnership, we got momentum,” he stated. “I think when we lost the wickets back-to-back, that was the turning point. When you got momentum, you lost it because of losing wickets.”
Unfamiliar Conditions and Inconsistencies
Babar pointed towards unfamiliar playing conditions and a lack of understanding of the USA team as contributing factors to the upset. This lack of knowledge translated into struggles for the Pakistani batters to stay at the crease and for the pacers to find their rhythm. Additionally, fielding lapses throughout the match allowed the USA to maintain pressure on Pakistan until the final few overs.
“We are not playing good in all three departments,” Babar Azam admitted. He highlighted inconsistencies in the bowling attack, particularly in the crucial first six overs where wickets weren’t taken. He also acknowledged struggles in the middle overs with the spinners failing to contain the batsmen. While crediting the USA team for their performance, Azam ultimately placed the responsibility on Pakistan’s shoulders. “This is not an excuse that they played well,” he said. “I think we played badly.”
Looking Forward Despite the Defeat
Despite the crushing defeat, Babar expressed a sense of optimism. “To be honest, I am feeling good,” he said. He acknowledged the need for improvement in all aspects of the game â batting, bowling, and fielding. With the tournament still ongoing, Pakistan will be looking to learn from their mistakes and bounce back in their upcoming matches.
Pakistan managed to reach a score of 159/7, thanks in part to some late big hits from Shaheen Afridi. In reply, the USA looked well on their way to victory with a strong partnership between Andries Gous and Monank Patel. However, Pakistan clawed their way back into the match with their pace attack finding their line and length. The final ball of the regulation innings saw a dramatic twist as Nitish Kumar smashed a boundary to force a Super Over.
Pakistan entrusted the crucial Super Over to experienced fast bowler Mohammad Amir, hoping to repeat his success from the previous over. Unfortunately, Amir’s performance was a stark contrast. He missed his lines, bowled wides, and ultimately conceded 18 runs to the USA batsmen. In reply, Pakistan only managed 13 runs before being bowled out, handing the USA a historic victory by 5 runs.
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