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 outlined the team’s mindset, stressing the importance of experience while noting the unpredictability of cricket.
“Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have won many matches for us. Winning and losing is part of the game. Going forward you will see us playing well,” said Tariq.
He further addressed the team’s approach to setbacks and the learning process after a defeat, highlighting the importance of reflection and moving on.
“After the game, the discussion is always about what mistakes we made. If a game doesn’t go well, it’s part of the game,” he stated.
The right-arm spinner reflected on the team’s recent struggles and the importance of learning from past mistakes. He emphasized the proactive steps they have taken to address deficiencies.
“Problems arise when you don’t work on your mistakes. We have worked on our mistakes. If we don’t repeat them, there will be no problem,” he said.
He also spoke about handling high-pressure situations on the pitch, explaining that keeping calm is paramount to performance.
“Feeling pressure is normal. Controlling pressure is part of the job and we have been working on that. But right now there is no pressure. I didn’t feel the team was under pressure,” he concluded.
In their previous outing, the 2009 champions opted for a spin-heavy attack after winning the toss and opting to field.
But the strategy backfired as India’s batting, led by a blistering half-century from Ishan Kishan, propelled them to 175/5 in 20 overs.
Pakistan’s spin duo of Abrar Ahmed and experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan struggled. Abrar conceded 38 runs in three overs, while Shadab leaked 17 runs in a single over, neither of them 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 to the chase.
Earlier in the tournament, Salman Mirza impressed in Pakistan’s opening match against the Netherlands, picking up 3/24 in four overs. In 14 T20Is for Pakistan, he has taken 22 wickets at an economy rate of 6.36.
Currently, Pakistan are third in the Group A points table with two wins and one loss from three matches, with a net run rate of -0.403.
A win against Namibia would secure six points, move them into second place and overtake the USA, 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.
