Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten believes poor decision-making was to blame for his team’s defeat to India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan were in a strong position at 72 for 2 with six or seven overs remaining, but they slumped to a disappointing defeat as India chased down their total of 120 with four balls to spare.
“Disappointing loss, that’s for sure,” Kirsten said. “I knew 120 was not going to be an easy target. If India got only 120, it was always going to be not the easiest. But I think we had the game at 72 for 2 with six or seven overs left. Disappointing not to get across the line from the position we got ourselves into.”
Kirsten pinpointed Pakistan‘s batting decision-making as the key factor in their defeat.
“Decision-making,” he said. “Maybe not so great decision making. You have got the game on, run a ball, eight wickets in hand, decision making at that point. That’s the game. That’s international cricket for you. You make mistakes like that, you are going to pay. I thought we made some poor decisions at important phases of the game. I thought Rizwan played well for us. We knew it was going to be a tough wicket to bat on. We managed the chase very well but then just let it slip in the end.”
India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who was named Player of the Match for the second time in two matches, praised his team’s bowlers for keeping their heads despite the conditions easing for batting.
“The biggest positive for us was the calmness because when we were batting in the morning, there was a lot more help,” Bumrah said. “And when we started bowling, the skies cleared up and the ball stopped seaming and there wasn’t a lot of lateral movement. So, we had to be more consistent and more accurate and we as a unit were very calm and very clear on what we wanted to do. So, we are very happy that as a unit we were able to contribute and created that pressure and then we were able to get the win.”
Bumrah said taking the emotion out of his bowling helps him perform at his best.
“I was trying to focus on what is the best option over here on a wicket like this,” he said. “How do I make shot-making difficult? What are the best options for me? So that way, I try to stay in the present and focus on what I have to do. Because if I look at the outside noise, if I look at people and pressure and emotion takes over, then things don’t really work for me. So, I was trying to do that, trying to create my own bubble, and trying to focus on that and try to put my best foot forward.”
Pakistan now require results elsewhere to go their way if they are to reach the Super 8s stage of the competition. Kirsten is aware that a significant improvement is needed.
“It wasn’t a small total on that wicket,” Kirsten said. “It was a good total. We knew that. But we have still got a chance in this tournament. We are still hopeful that things can play into our hands. Obviously we have got to play a lot better cricket than we are playing. It just comes down to executing our skills together as batters and bowlers. We had that game for 35 of the 40 overs. We played good cricket, we did everything we needed to.”
Kirsten acknowledged that he is still in the early stages of his tenure as Pakistan coach and needs time to get the best out of his players.
“Everyone’s responsible,” he said. “We accept the loss and we take the heat because the team has not done well. And we will do what we can to try and rectify it. I have been here for 12 days so it is a new journey for me understanding the players that are going to win games for Pakistan, which is what you are looking for.”
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