Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has defended senior duo Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi despite their recent poor form, ahead of Pakistan’s must-win clash against Namibia on Wednesday at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Tariq praised the contributions of Pakistan’s senior players and described the team’s mindset, emphasizing the importance of experience while emphasizing the unpredictability of cricket.
“Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have won many matches for us. Winning and losing are part of the game. In future, you will see us playing well,” Tariq said.
He then discussed the team’s approach to setbacks and the learning process after a loss, emphasizing the importance of reflection and moving forward.
“After the match we always discuss the mistakes we made. If a match doesn’t go well, it’s part of the game,” he said.
The right-arm spinner reflected on the team’s recent struggles and the importance of learning from past mistakes. He highlighted the proactive steps they have taken to address the shortcomings.
“Problems arise when you don’t correct your mistakes. We have worked on our mistakes. If we don’t repeat them, there won’t be a problem,” he said.
He also spoke about handling high-pressure situations on the field, explaining that staying calm is crucial for performance.
“Feeling pressure is normal. Controlling pressure is part of the job and we have worked on that. But at the moment there is no pressure. I didn’t feel that the team was under pressure,” he concluded.
In their previous outing, the 2009 champions opted for a heavy attack after winning the toss and choosing to field.
However, the strategy backfired as Indian batting, led by a blistering half-century from Ishan Kishan, propelled them to 175/5 in 20 overs.
Pakistani duo Abrar Ahmed and experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan struggled. Abrar conceded 38 runs in three overs, while Shadab lost 17 runs in a single over, with neither claiming a wicket.
Among the pacers, Shaheen Afridi was the only one to make a notable impact, returning figures of 1/31 in two overs. Captain Salman Ali Agha later described it as a “day off”.
The Green Shirts’ batting also faltered under pressure, being bowled out for 114 in 18 overs after a disastrous start.
Earlier in the tournament, Salman Mirza impressed in Pakistan’s opening match against the Netherlands, taking 3/24 in four overs. In 14 T20Is for Pakistan, he took 22 wickets at an economy rate of 6.36.
Currently, Pakistan stands third in the Group A points table with two wins and one loss in three matches, with a net rating of -0.403.
A win over Namibia would secure six points, moving them into second place and overtaking the United States, who have two wins and two losses with four points and a net run rate of 0.788, ensuring progression to the Super Eight stage.
