Pakistan’s unfortunate losing streak continues as they face their fourth defeat against Australia. Babar Azam offers an explanation for the pak vs aus match.
Babar Azam explained that Pakistan’s fielding and bowling performance in the initial 34 overs played a pivotal role in the loss to Australia. He specifically highlighted the crucial dropped catch of David Warner.
“Our difficulties began in the first 34 overs in both our bowling and fielding. Dropping David Warner was costly, as players of his caliber tend to capitalize on such opportunities. However, I credit our bowlers, both pacers and spinners, for making a strong comeback in the last 15 overs by hitting their marks and stumps,” Azam shared during the post-match ceremony.
He went on to discuss the batting flaws within the Pakistani team, emphasizing their inability to establish significant partnerships.
“Our message to the batsmen was clear: we had the potential to chase the target. We have done it before, and the conditions were favorable under the floodlights. Although we had a promising start and managed some small partnerships, we lacked substantial ones in the middle. In all honesty, we need to perform better in the initial ten overs with the ball and build stronger partnerships with the bat in the middle,” he added.
Despite a solid beginning by the opening pair, Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique, who achieved a rare 134-run partnership against Australia in a World Cup match, Pakistan found themselves at 154-2 in 23.4 overs after losing both Abdullah and Imam. They desperately needed a substantial partnership to regain momentum, but Babar Azam himself fell after scoring just 18 runs, courtesy of a brilliant catch by Pat Cummins.
As the innings progressed, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. However, with the arrival of Iftikhar Ahmed, it seemed Pakistan might stage a comeback, as the 33-year-old began hitting boundaries.
Nevertheless, Adam Zampa’s crucial breakthroughs, dismissing Iftikhar and Mohammad Rizwan in consecutive overs, dampened Pakistan’s hopes. The Green Shirts were eventually bowled out for 305 runs in 45.3 overs.
Australia batted first and posted a massive total of 367 runs, the highest ever against Pakistan in a World Cup. Shaheen Afridi stood out as Pakistan’s top bowler, claiming five wickets, marking his second five-wicket haul in a World Cup match.
pak vs aus Squad
Pakistan Squad:
- Abdullah Shafiuqe
- Imam ul Haq
- Babar Azam (c)
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Saud Shakeel
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Usama Mir
- Haris Rauf
- Shaheen Afridi
- Hasan Ali
- Mohammad Nawaz
Australia Squad:
- Mitchell Marsh
- David Warner
- Steve Smith
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marcus Stoinis
- Mitchell Starc
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Adam Zampa
- Josh Hazlewood