Babar Azam Says Bowlers Were Not Up to the Mark: Pakistan still have the chance to write their name on the Super 8 chart, but they may just have made it a bit difficult. An avoidable defeat to the 18th-ranked team might send them packing.
Pakistan lost to the United States of America in their opening match in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Super Overs. Batting first, they could only score 159 in a tricky wicket. USA tied the score, and in the super-over, the hosts made 18 runs, which the Greens couldn’t catch up to.
Losing the toss, the Greens had to bat on a tricky pitch that gave the USA bowlers an edge in the initial overs, says Babar. And this put Pakistan in danger right at the start, losing 3 wickets while touching 30 in the first 6 overs.
“Today’s wicket had help for the fast bowlers in the first six overs,” Babar said at the post-match presentation. “But later on, I didn’t feel it was a different wicket. It settled down a bit. Because of the early start – the matches are starting at 10.30 am – the fast bowlers will obviously get a little help. There was some juice in the pitch early morning. So they utilized that and executed their plan.
Babar Azam Says Bowlers Were Not Up to the Mark
159 on a tricky pitch with one of the best bowlers on your side should have been defendable. And Babar realizes it. And he knows that they could do far better than that.
“Even in the second innings, I think we also got help, but we were not up to the mark in terms of our bowling areas. We lacked in that in the first ten overs. We came back after that but they had already taken the momentum. But given the bowlers we have, we should have defended that total. On this pitch, I think it was a defendable total for our bowling.
“We are better than that in the bowling. We did not take wickets in the first six overs. In the middle overs, if your spinner is not taking wickets, then the pressure is on you. After ten overs, we did come back but I think the way they finished the game in the Super Over, the credit goes to the US team.”
Mohammed Aamir who bowled the super over had thrown 3 wides and this was vital in USA’s 5-run win. But Babar hesitated to throw the bowler under the bus.
“He [Amir] is an experienced bowler,” Babar said. “He knows how to bowl and we were just trying to bowl according to field. But I think the US batsmen were smart. Even when the ball went to the keeper, they were running. So I think that thing was a plus point for them in the Super Over.”
What’s Next for Pakistan?
Pakistan will now have to face the heat of their arch-rivals, India, who had a massive 8-wicket win in their first match against Ireland. The match in New York is on the 9th of this month. The Green will only get the green flag for the Super 8 if they manage to win all the games. Or they will have to rely on other results in the group.
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