Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam has said that the team put up a solid batting total despite the defeat against Australia, and doubled down on his support for medium-fast bowler Hasan Ali after journalists raised questions around the latter’s performance. In semifinal 2 of the 2021 T20 World Cup. Pakistan have lost by five wickets to Australia at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
“The way we gelled and played the entire tournament, I am satisfied as a captain. Hopefully, we’ll learn from this for the next tournament,” the captain said.
He stated that today’s defeat was disappointing, but noted:
“I thought we scored as many runs as we had planned in the first innings. I think if we give such teams a chance in the back end, it is going to be costly. The turning point was that dropped catch. Had we taken it, the scenario could have been different.”
In his comments, Babar Azam admitted that the dropped catch of Matthew Wade by Hasan Ali had been a turning point in today’s match, but emphasised that the team could not even consider dropping him.
“Lack of performance is not in your hands, but effort is in your hands. And he did make an effort – unfortunately he could not make it. But I am confident that he will perform well going forward from here.”
In response to another question about Hasan Ali's performance, Azam said:
“He is my main bowler and has helped Pakistan win plenty of matches. Catches are dropped by players, and I will support him the way he is fighting. He is our main bowler and has always helped us win. Everyone doesn’t perform every time. You perform if it is your day.”
When asked whether Pakistan are looking to defeat Australia in their upcoming March 2022 tour of Pakistan, Azam pointed out that the Australia series was “quite far” and that his focus was going to be on the more immediate Bangladesh series to come.
“The way we gelled and played the entire tournament, I am satisfied as a captain. Hopefully, we’ll learn from this for the next tournament,” the captain said.
He stated that today’s defeat was disappointing, but noted:
“I thought we scored as many runs as we had planned in the first innings. I think if we give such teams a chance in the back end, it is going to be costly. The turning point was that dropped catch. Had we taken it, the scenario could have been different.”
In his comments, Babar Azam admitted that the dropped catch of Matthew Wade by Hasan Ali had been a turning point in today’s match, but emphasised that the team could not even consider dropping him.
“Lack of performance is not in your hands, but effort is in your hands. And he did make an effort – unfortunately he could not make it. But I am confident that he will perform well going forward from here.”
In response to another question about Hasan Ali's performance, Azam said:
“He is my main bowler and has helped Pakistan win plenty of matches. Catches are dropped by players, and I will support him the way he is fighting. He is our main bowler and has always helped us win. Everyone doesn’t perform every time. You perform if it is your day.”
When asked whether Pakistan are looking to defeat Australia in their upcoming March 2022 tour of Pakistan, Azam pointed out that the Australia series was “quite far” and that his focus was going to be on the more immediate Bangladesh series to come.