Former Pakistan cricketer Younis Khan has spoken about the dismal performance of the Babar Azam-led team in the 2024 T20 World Cup during the World Legends Championship 2024. Younis Khan claimed that they were motivated to win the game for their country following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.
The Men in Green had a forgettable performance at the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. The Pakistan team started their campaign with a shocking defeat against the United States. Pakistan then lost to arch-rivals India in their next match, which hampered their chances of reaching the Super Eight stage.
Babar Azam-led team recorded victories against Canada and Ireland in their last two group stage matches. However, they failed to finish in the top two spots in the Group A table. Team India and the United States of America advanced to the Super Eight stage in the main Group A tournament.
We felt we had to win this match – Younis Khan
Younis Khan is currently representing Pakistan Champions during the 2024 World Legends Championship. Pakistan Champions recorded a five-wicket win over Australia Champions in the second match of the tournament at the Edgbaston Cricket Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday, July 3.
Captain Younis Khan was awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ award for his excellent performance with the bat. After the match, Younis mentioned that his team had practiced on a limited basis due to commitments to television work during the World Cup. The captain emphasised that his team was in high spirits.
“We haven’t practiced much because we’ve been very busy with television work for the World Cup. We just finished and travelled here but we are very encouraged because after what happened at the World Cup we felt we had to win this match for our country,” Younis Khan said.
Man of the Match Younis Khan “We haven’t practiced much as we’ve been busy doing television work for the World Cup. We’ve just finished and travelled here but our spirits are high because after what happened in the World Cup, we felt we had to win this match for… pic.twitter.com/fPG9cES3Ak
– Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 3, 2024
Pakistan opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Shaun Marsh struggled to score runs as he was dismissed for 16 runs off 20 balls. Aaron Finch scored 68 runs off 40 balls, with nine fours and three sixes. Finch’s aggressive batting laid a solid foundation for the team in the second match of the event.
Callum Ferguson scored an unbeaten 26 runs off 16 balls, including two boundaries and a six. Lower-order batsman Nathan Coulter-Nile added a quickfire knock of 25 runs off 10 balls, with two fours and as many sixes. Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi were the standout bowlers for Pakistan, each taking two wickets.
Pakistan started poorly, losing two wickets for 24 runs. Younis Khan (63 runs off 41 balls) and Misbah-ul-Haq (unbeaten 46 off 30) forged a match-winning partnership of 90 runs after Pakistan were reduced to 79/4 in 8.3 overs. The Younis Khan-led team chased down the target with five wickets and two balls to spare.
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