Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed relief after securing their first victory in the T20 World Cup, attributing the challenging pitch conditions to the team’s inability to chase down the target in fewer overs.
Following consecutive defeats against the USA and India in Group A, the match against Canada became crucial for Pakistan. Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 53 runs off 50 balls and Babar Azam’s 33 runs contributed significantly as Pakistan successfully chased the modest target, achieving victory in 17.3 overs.
Babar Azam expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s performance, especially highlighting the team’s strong start in the bowling department during the first six overs. Despite aiming to achieve victory within 14 overs to improve their net run rate, the challenging pitch conditions posed difficulties.
His frustration was evident after getting caught in the slips, reminiscent of a similar dismissal against India. However, he remained determined to refine his approach for better outcomes in future matches.
In the Group A standings, India leads with two wins, followed by the USA with the same record. Pakistan, now in the third position with two points from three games, is ahead of Canada and Ireland.
Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar acknowledged the challenging batting conditions, expressing disappointment with the team’s performance. He felt they fell short by about 25 to 30 runs due to the difficult pitch, emphasizing the importance of a positive brand of cricket despite the unfavorable circumstances.
