Pakistan cricket team’s dream run in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 came to an end in the second semi-final – where the Men in Green were knocked out of the tournament by Australia – who registered a come-from-behind victory against Babar Azam & Co. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to social media to share a message for his team.
Khan, who had led Pakistan to their maiden World Cup triumph in 1992, sympathised with the team and said he can understand how they are feeling having gone through similar emotions during his playing days.
To Babar Azam & the team: I know exactly how all of you are feeling right now bec I have faced similar disappointments on the cricket field. But you shd all be proud of the quality of cricket you played & the humility you showed in your wins. Congratulations Team Australia,” Khan tweeted.
Pakistan punched above their weight in the tournament and emerged as the favourites after two convincing wins over India and New Zealand in the first two matches. With 5 wins from 5 matches, they entered the semi-final as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
Batting first, Pakistan put 176 runs on board riding on good knocks by Babar Azam (39 off 34), Mohammad Rizwan (67 off 52) and Fakhar Zaman (55* off 32).
Pakistan were in the driver’s seat for the most part of the second semi-final before Matthew Hade launched a late onslaught (41* off 17), including a hat-trick of sixes against in-form bowler Shaheen Afridi, to take the match away from Pakistan.
Reflecting upon the loss, Azam highlighted the dropped catch by Hasan Ali in the penultimate over of the game as the turning point of the match.
”I thought we scored as many runs as we had planned in the first innings. I think if we give such teams a chance in the back end, it is going to be costly. The turning point was that dropped catch. Had we taken it, the scenario could have been different. The way we gelled and played the entire tournament, I am satisfied as a captain,” said Babar Azam in a post-match presentation.