'Our spinners also did not...': Babar after Pak’s defeat to USA

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's

T20 World Cup

campaign got off to a rocky start with a

Super Over

defeat against debutants USA. The match, held on Thursday, exposed Pakistan's struggles to adapt to the playing conditions and highlighted USA's spirited performance across all departments.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a below-par 159/7. Early wickets hampered their progress, preventing the batting lineup from building substantial partnerships.

Captain

Babar Azam

acknowledged the team's shortcomings in the initial overs, stating, "First 6 overs while batting we didn't capitalise. Back-to-back wickets always put you on the back foot." He further admitted the spinners' inability to take wickets in the middle overs proved costly, saying, "Our spinners also did not take wickets in the middle overs so these things cost us."

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USA, in response, paced their chase admirably. Captain

Monank Patel

led from the front with a composed half-century, anchoring crucial partnerships that kept the scoreboard ticking. Their disciplined bowling effort in the initial overs set the tone for the chase, restricting Pakistan's scoring opportunities.
Patel emphasized the team's belief and commitment, stating, "Winning the toss and the way we bowled in the first 6 overs, we took wickets and kept them quiet... We knew we were in the game with 160 to chase, just needed a partnership." He highlighted the significance of the occasion, saying, "Playing in a World Cup, you don't get a chance to do it every year. We were fully committed every single ball."

The match went down to the wire, ending in a tie with both teams finishing on 159. In the Super Over, USA showcased their composure, scoring 18 runs while restricting Pakistan to 13.
Babar Azam attributed the loss to a failure to assess the conditions effectively, stating, "Very hard, all credit to USA, they played better than us in all three departments. Little bit of moisture in the pitch, it was also two-paced. As a professional you need to assess the conditions."
(Inputs from PTI)