Pakistan captain Babar Azam called on the middle-order batsmen to improve their game after England defeated them in a one-sided contest at the Oval.
The visitors, after a good start to the game, suffered and succumbed due to some out-of-form batsmen. With the kind of start Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan had given Pakistan, it looked like they would put at least 180+ on the board. However, they did not end with a score that the bowling line-up could defend and eventually suffered a 7-wicket defeat.
For England, the result is a major boost in their preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 starting on June 2. To defend the title they won in 2022 in Land Down Under, they will have to finish in the top 2 of Group B. The Three Lions will face Scotland, Namibia, Oman and their arch-rival Australia.
Big setback for Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup
For Pakistan, the result was forgettable. But they will still like to remember it, to learn and not repeat the same mistakes. The team does not seem to be approaching the level it was 2 years ago. The Green Army had a very eventful T20 World Cup in Australia, where they reached the final but finished runners-up.
Finishing runners-up was a notable achievement for Pakistan, who were unraveling during the group stage, losing to India and Zimbabwe. But the Men in Green finally sealed qualification for the next round, thanks to victories against South Africa and the Netherlands, which helped Babar Azam’s team with a surprise victory over the Proteas.
Pakistan’s chances of going through a do-or-die situation again in the World Cup group stage could be at stake. There are surprise packages in the US, Canada and Ireland along with India in their group. Babar Azam’s men had lost the first of a 3-match T20I series which they had won 2-1 last month, so the Irish will be looking to repeat the trick.
But the 2009 T20 World Cup champions’ last series defeat 2-0 has raised questions and the middle batting order is responsible for most of them.
What did Babar Azam say?
Babar Azam was apparently disappointed with Pakistan’s 2-0 defeat in the 4-match series and the other 2 matches were washed out by rain. At the Oval yesterday, Babar and Rizwan got off to a positive start, scoring 59 runs in the powerplay before the captain departed for 36 for 22.
Rizwan followed suit after 23 off 16 with Usman Khan playing an aggressive knock of 38 off 21. However, the remaining batting order added only 54 runs on the board. England would then chase the total within 15.3 overs.
After the defeat, Babar Azam called on the middle order to come forward, especially those who came out for the ducks – Shadab Khan (golden duck) and Azam Khan (0 for 5).
“The first six overs we bowled very well. After that the momentum changed as wickets fell. Our middle order needs to improve. You need 2 or 3 good overs in the middle and also at the death. England’s bowling was very “Well, I hope we don’t do this in the World Cup.” – Babar said after the match.