Pakistan’s cricket captain, Babar Azam, expressed disappointment over the team’s lackluster performance in the recently concluded four-match T20 series against England. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony in London, Babar acknowledged that the team should have performed better in preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the US. He emphasized the importance of playing modern cricket and outlined the road ahead for Pakistan.
Addressing the series loss to England, Babar emphasized that a victory would have significantly boosted the team’s morale heading into the World Cup. He stressed the learning opportunities that losses provide, underlining the need for the team to analyze and improve upon their mistakes.
Babar highlighted the significance of winning the series to carry high morale into the World Cup, emphasizing that the tournament presents a completely different challenge. Despite the familiarity with conditions in the West Indies, he admitted the team’s lack of knowledge about playing in the US.
Regarding the team’s performance in the series, Babar pinpointed several areas of concern, particularly in the middle order batting and bowling department. He acknowledged the failure of batsmen to take responsibility during the crucial middle overs, leading to the loss of wickets and mounting pressure on the team.
In addition, Babar expressed disappointment with the bowling unit’s performance, citing their inability to contain runs effectively. He stressed the importance of rectifying these shortcomings ahead of the World Cup, emphasizing the need for all players to fulfill their roles and take responsibility for the team’s performance.
Babar emphasized the team’s commitment to playing modern-day cricket, similar to other top teams, and stressed the importance of senior players taking responsibility. He acknowledged that changes within the team take time to yield results but expressed confidence in the selection process, emphasizing that every player is chosen on merit.
Regarding individual players like Azam Khan and Fakhar Zaman, Babar mentioned their capabilities and admitted to mistakes made in the middle order during the series. He expressed determination to correct these errors before the World Cup and highlighted the importance of partnerships in changing match outcomes.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Babar reiterated the need for players to understand their roles and take responsibility. Despite recent setbacks, he remains optimistic about the team’s potential and called for credit to be given to England for their performance.
