The Pakistan cricket team may have returned to winning ways in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 but is still in danger of being eliminated from the tournament. After losing their first two matches, Pakistan bounced back with an impressive seven-wicket victory over Canada on June 11.
With this huge victory, the Men in Green jumped to third place in the Group A points table, but still, India and the United States lead the table. Now, they would be praying that Team India beats co-hosts United States in their third match of the T20 World Cup 2024 and that rain does not ruin their Super-8 hopes.
Pakistan’s Super 8 hopes hang in the balance as Haris Rauf focuses on beating Ireland
If the United States somehow manages to beat India in today’s game or the rain plays a spoilsport role, Pakistan team’s journey in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 will end with their final Group A match against Ireland on 16 June in Florida.
However, the United States will have another chance to give Pakistan a heart attack when they face Ireland on June 14 in their final group match. However, Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf stressed that his team’s focus remains solely on their performance and not calculations on their chances of qualifying for the Super 8 in the ongoing World T20 2024.
Rauf dismissed any concerns about such external factors and said that the Pakistan team is only focused on how to play and win its remaining matches. Rauf stressed the importance of maintaining the winning momentum gained after beating Canada and said that this victory sets a positive tone for the team in the ongoing tournament.
We will play good cricket in future: Haris Rauf
The star pacer also expressed confidence in the Pakistan team’s ability to perform well in their remaining matches and said that their main objective is to beat Ireland and let the results take care of themselves.
Haris Rauf said in the post-match press conference: “No, no, nothing like that is happening to us. We focus only on our game and how to play. If we win our match, we will accept what happens. Yes, you know that winning is very important. You have to set the tone in any tournament, we win the match, we concentrate on our games and hopefully we win the next match. And then whatever happens, if we qualify, God willing, we will qualify and play some good cricket in the future.”
With impressive figures of 4-0-26-2 against Canada, Rauf became the second Pakistani bowler after Shadab Khan to take 100 wickets in men’s T20Is. Rauf also became the fastest pacer to reach the 100-wicket milestone in the shortest format of the game.
However, Rauf said that he has not set any target in the format but would love to have at least 200-300 wickets to his name. He said goodbye saying: “I have no goal. I can take 200-300 wickets, but I don’t think there is anything bigger than taking even one wicket for Pakistan.”