Pakistan’s tendency to underestimate lesser-known teams at major tournaments was highlighted by captain Babar Azam, who admitted that his team performed well below their usual standard in a surprising defeat to the United States at the Twenty20 World Cup on Thursday.
The US secured one of the biggest upsets in Twenty20 World Cup history by defeating Pakistan in a Super Over in Dallas, earning their second win of the tournament. This loss echoes previous defeats to lower-ranked opposition in major tournaments, including Zimbabwe at the 2022 T20 World Cup and Afghanistan at last year’s 50-overs World Cup.
Speaking to reporters after the defeat, Babar remarked, “Whenever you come into any tournament, you always do the best preparation. But you can say it’s a kind of mindset, when you come up against a team like this, you relax a little. You take things a little lightly.”
“If you don’t execute your plan against any team, then whatever team it is, they will beat you. I believe that we are not up to the mark in executing. We are doing well in preparation, but in the match, we are not executing our plans as a team,” Babar expressed, reflecting on his side’s performance.
Babar also lamented his team’s failure to take wickets in the first half of the US innings, emphasizing the importance of early breakthroughs in cricket. He noted that an early 68-run partnership between Mohank Patel and Andries Gous proved vital in the host nation’s successful chase.
“We are not performing well in all three departments,” Babar continued. “We are better than that in bowling, but we aren’t taking wickets in the first six overs. In the middle overs, if our spinners aren’t taking wickets, then the pressure mounts on us.
However, credit to the US team for their performance in finishing the game in the super overs.”
Up next, Pakistan is set to face arch-rivals India in a highly anticipated match in New York on Sunday. The team has already arrived in New York and was warmly received by Consul General Aamer Ahmad Atozai, according to a statement from state broadcaster PTV News.
Following the India match on June 9, Pakistan will play against Canada on June 11. The statement urged Pakistani diaspora and cricket enthusiasts in New York and across the United States to show their support, stating that their presence would boost the morale of the players.
The Consulate General of Pakistan in New York extended its best wishes to the Pakistan cricket team for a successful and memorable tournament, the statement concluded.
