Team improvement is on Pakistan captain, Babar Azam mind. He agrees they must ramp up their performance for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Specifically, he notes batters need to step it up during the middle overs.
“We’re finding it tough to score fast in the middle stages. We experimented. We brought Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan (an all-rounder), and Usman Khan (a top-order batter) further up the rotation. However, injuries to Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, and Irfan Khan Niazi disrupted our plans in this series against New Zealand,” commented Babar. He spoke after a close shave for Pakistan in a gripping fifth T20 International at Gaddafi Stadium on a recent Saturday night. Pakistan managed to escape defeat by a slim margin of nine runs against underdog New Zealand.
The Five Game Series Concluded in a 2-2 Draw
With the Rawalpindi match called off due to rain. “We typically rack up an average of 50 runs within the initial powerplay phase (first six overs), which is reasonable. However, it would be beneficial to increase our score by around 40 during overs seven through ten. Furthermore, in the concluding ten overs, we should aim for 90 to 100 runs, focusing specifically on power hitting in the final five overs,” the team’s leader explained.
Babar added that Pakistan keeps are coming up short in the fielding sector. He clarified, “The boys are getting better, but there’s room for more. Not thrilled with the outcomes against New Zealand, Babar, as skipper, believed, We should have won with a larger gap.”
He pointed out that Pakistan’s current rotation approach should allow the team some leeway. He commended Shaheen Shah Afridi’s outstanding performance. On Saturday, Afridi managed to secure three significant scalps. He broke the opening partnership early, which steered the game towards Pakistan. Afridi ended the match taking four wickets for only 30 runs, which considerably limited New Zealand to a final score of 169.
“In my previous interview I stated that our lead bowler, Shaheen, knows the art of bouncing back. He’s not only mentally tough but also tenacious. His ability to snatch us crucial wickets as a captain brings me immense joy,” said Babar. He also praised Azam. He noted the team felt his absence and added, “Azam’s ability to transform the game with his impactful hitting in mere overs is truly astonishing.”
Babar Shared his Pleasure about the Recent Games
Babar shared his pleasure about the recent games with bowler Mohammad Amir and versatile player Imad Wasim. It was their first global tournament against New Zealand following their return last month from retirement.
Babar has observed that Pakistan didn’t score 200 runs or more in their T20 series against New Zealand. He states, “The pitch conditions can have an impact. Our team has surpassed 200 in T20 games on these same pitches in Rawalpindi and Lahore.” Babar continued to back young batsman Saim Ayub despite his underwhelming performance against New Zealand.
“Saim’s skills are impressive. He can swing the balance of a game with his aggressive style,” said the captain. “Considering Pakistan has about seven or eight T20 matches before the World Cup [June 1-29], team positions remain open.”
Usman a Fresh Addition to the Team
His promising batting talent and his newness to Pakistan’s team were highlighted. The understanding was that he needed time to fit in comfortably and show his potential. Simultaneously, New Zealand’s captain, Michael Bracewell, felt thrilled about how his team played against a formidable opponent like Pakistan.
In short, it was a fun series. Pakistan played excellently and my team learned heaps from going against their big guns, asserted Bracewell, ace of off-spin. As for the defeat in the fifth T20 from being ahead, Bracewell acknowledged that despite setbacks, their spirit kept them battling till the last moment.
“Sadly, our middle orders suffered a few fast losses that put us on the defensive. However, the players battled bravely until the end,” acknowledged Bracewell. He praised his team’s exceptional performance in Pakistan, stating that everyone on the tour deserved recognition.
The stress of worldwide games is unique. My youthful team members handled it quite nicely, said the leader of New Zealand’s team. He also voiced his appreciation for the large crowds that gathered in Rawalpindi and Lahore to enjoy the game.
New Zealand Coach Gary Stead:
Gary Stead, chatted after the fifth T20. He admired his team’s resilience. They were able to draw the series in Pakistan. Yet, he had doubts that many touring members would be enlisted for his World Cup team.
Stead, set to announce his team for the US and Caribbean’s June World Cup on Monday, was satisfied with the bounce back following the first match’s significant seven-wicket defeat in Rawalpindi. “Our team’s performance filled me with pride,” Stead shared with the media.
Our initial attempt was unsuccessful, and we took a heavy loss. However, our recovery from it was impressive. Some new team members have surely gained value from this.
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Remember, just two years back, Pakistan reached the World Cup finals. Competing with them was truly, quite satisfying for us.