T20 World Cup 2024: Babar Azam admits complacency in Pakistan’s USA upset, Shoaib Malik calls for captain to bat in middle-order

After receiving a shellshock in their opening T20 World Cup 2024 match by hosts United States, Pakistan captain Babar Azam admitted that the team did take their young opponents “a little lightly” and misfired across departments at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday.

Featuring in their first T20 World Cup and meeting Pakistan for the first time in a T20I, a determined USA team pipped Babar and Co. in a Super Over thriller. Pakistan’s wavering form was highlighted yet again by the loss. The team entered the contest after being beaten by Ireland in a recent bilateral.

“Whenever you come in any tournament, you do the best preparation always. You can say it’s a kind of mindset. When you come up against a team like this (associate nations), you relax a little, you take things a little lightly,” Babar said at the post-match press conference.

“See, if you don’t execute your plan against any team, then whatever team it is, they will beat you. So, I believe that we are not up to the mark in executing. We are doing well in preparation but in the match, we are not executing our plans as a team,” he added.

“I am upset. We are not playing well in all three departments.”

Pakistan were struggling at 26 for three before Babar and Shadab Khan put a semblance of a fightback to eventually lead the side to 159 for seven. In reply, USA were off to a good start before Pakistan plugged things back with their four-man pace attack. However, Haris Rauf failed to defend 14 in the over, prompting a second Super Over of the edition.

“For six overs, we did not capitalise properly, but later on, after the 10th over we got momentum, but again we lost too many wickets and then your momentum is gone. So, as a batting unit, we need to step it up in the middle and towards the end.

“We are better than that in bowling, we were not able to take wickets in the first six overs. In the middle overs, your spinner is not taking wickets then pressure is on us. After 10 overs, we did come back but I think the way they finished game in the Super Over, the credit goes to the US team,” Babar added.

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Malik calls for change in Babar’s slot

Meanwhile, former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik has called for a change in the composition of the batting line-up, including Babar’s position in the order. On Thursday, Babar opened with wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan and made 44 off 43 deliveries.

“The middle order has not worked. You tried yourself as an opener, so you can try yourself in the middle-order. If there is any problem in the team that needs fixing, the skipper should lead from the front,” Shoaib Malik said while speaking on Ten Sports.

“The middle order are skilful enough to do the job. The likes of Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam Khan just need guidance during their time on the pitch. And there is no one better than Babar Azam to do that job for the betterment of the team,” Malik added.

Pakistan will face India next in a Group A clash in New York on Sunday.

With PTI inputs

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