Pakistan captain Babar Azam admitted losing wickets at regular intervals and playing too many dot balls led to their downfall in their six-run loss against arch-rivals India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York on Sunday.
Pakistan had to chase an under-par score of 120 runs after their bowlers did a fantastic job in bundling out the opposition at 119 after winning the toss. The Men in Green were in a shoo-in position as they were 57-1 after the halfway stage in their batting innings.
However, the Babar Azam-led team’s middle order could not deliver the goods. Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with 31 but the right-hander played 44 balls. Furthermore, none of the other Pakistan batters could go past the 15-run mark as the Indian bowlers were right on the money.
Jasprit Bumrah was the chief destroyer as he returned with impressive figures of 3-14 in his quota of four overs and bowled 15 dot balls.
Pakistan was well ahead in the game but they could not keep their calm. The batters could not rotate the strike at regular intervals and it led to their shortcoming.
Babar Azam said in the post-match presentation, “We bowled well. In the batting, lost back-to-back wickets and had too many dot balls. Tactics were simple to play normally. Just strike rotation and the odd boundary. But in that period we had too many dot balls. Can’t expect much from tailenders. Our mind was to utilize the first six overs in batting. But one wicket down, and again we weren’t up to the mark in the first six. The pitch looked decent. The ball was coming on nicely. It was a little bit slow, and some balls extra bounce. Have to win the last two matches. Will sit and discuss our mistakes but looking forward to last two matches.”
With this loss, Pakistan is standing on the exit doors of elimination and will need to win their last two matches by big margins. Furthermore, they will need to hope that Ireland beats the USA.
Pakistan will next take on Canada at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York on Tuesday.
