Following their Super Over defeat to USA in the T20 World Cup opener, Pakistan captain Babar Azam admitted his team had underestimated their opponents and failed to perform in all facets of the game.
USA, co-hosts of the event, secured a surprising victory over former champions Pakistan, highlighting Pakistan’s historical unpredictability in international cricket tournaments.
“When you face teams like these (associate nations), there’s a tendency to relax and take things lightly,” Babar stated during the post-match press conference. “If you don’t execute your plans against any opponent, regardless of their status, they can defeat you. We prepared well but failed to execute our plans effectively as a team.”
Expressing disappointment, Babar acknowledged that Pakistan’s performance fell short across batting, bowling, and fielding.
“We were not effective in all three departments,” he emphasized. Despite a recovery led by Babar and Shadab Khan after an early collapse, Pakistan couldn’t sustain momentum against USA’s disciplined play.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s bowling performance, Babar noted the spinners’ inability to take wickets during crucial phases of the match, undermining their typically strong bowling reputation.
Facing a critical match against arch-rivals India next, Babar emphasized the need for Pakistan’s batting unit to improve and perform consistently throughout the innings.
“We need to step up in the middle and towards the end,” he asserted, recognizing the challenges ahead in the tournament.
