ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Pakistan’s cricket team assistant coach, Azhar Mahmood, has expressed the team’s disappointment following consecutive defeats against the United States and traditional rivals India in the T20 World Cup 2024. Mahmood acknowledged that the morale within the team has taken a hit, particularly highlighting the greater disappointment associated with losing to India compared to the defeat against the US.
The recent losses include a narrow defeat against the US, where Pakistan fell short by five runs in the Super Over, followed by a six-run loss to India while chasing a modest target of 120 runs.
In light of these setbacks, Pakistan’s chances in the tournament now hinge on winning their upcoming matches against Ireland and Canada, while also relying on the US to lose their remaining matches against India and Ireland. Even with victories in their next games, Pakistan must secure a better net run rate than the US to advance to the Super Eight stage.
Mahmood emphasized the need to boost the team’s morale despite the challenging situation, emphasizing that there is still an opportunity for them to bounce back. He attributed the defeat against India to poor shot selection by the batters, leading to a high required run rate. However, Mahmood stressed that the loss was a collective responsibility and refrained from singling out individuals for blame.
As Pakistan prepares for a crucial match against Canada, Mahmood acknowledged the precarious position the team finds itself in and the importance of winning both upcoming matches to remain in contention for the T20 World Cup. Additionally, their fate in the tournament is intertwined with the results of the US matches against India and Ireland.
