KOLKATA: Pakistan’s cricket captain Babar Azam expressed optimism on Tuesday, asserting that his team still holds hope of reaching the World Cup semi-finals despite facing formidable challenges. After a convincing seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh, Pakistan secured their third win in seven matches, boosting their spirits for the upcoming games.
“We are trying to win our next two matches and let’s see where we stand,” said Azam, emphasizing the team’s determination. “We will take a lot of confidence into those matches.”
Currently, Pakistan sits in fifth place on the 10-nation table with six points. Australia, positioned fourth, holds eight points and has a game in hand, while third-placed New Zealand also has eight points and one game less played.
Pakistan’s next matches are crucial in determining their fate in the tournament. They are set to face New Zealand on Saturday in Bengaluru before concluding their group campaign against England in Kolkata on November 11. Achieving victory in these matches is essential for Pakistan, and they also rely on other results to go in their favor to stay in the competition.
In their match against Bangladesh, Pakistan showcased a strong performance. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s three-wicket haul coupled with impressive batting displays from openers Fakhar Zaman (81) and Abdullah Shafique (68) allowed Pakistan to chase down a 205-run target with ease, losing only three wickets and leaving 105 balls spare.
Babar Azam Praises Fakhar Zaman
Captain Azam praised Zaman’s natural game, acknowledging his significant contribution to the team. “We know when Fakhar plays the way he can for 20-30 overs, it is a different ball game. So we let him play his natural game, and it is good to see,” Azam stated.
However, Bangladesh faced disappointment as they became the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup after suffering six losses in seven games. Captain Shakib Al Hasan emphasized the need for collective performances from his team and expressed hope for a bounce back in their remaining matches against Sri Lanka in New Delhi on November 6 and against Australia in Pune five days later.
“The fans supported us and are behind us whether we are doing well or not. We have to give something back to them so they can smile,” said Shakib, reflecting on the team’s determination to perform better in the upcoming matches.
