Babar Azam reflects on Pakistan's loss to USA in T20 World Cup match

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam admitted that the team committed mistakes in their first match of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Pakistan lost its first World Cup game to the USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday. The match ended in a tie. Later, the two teams clashed in a Super Over. Pakistan's Mohammad Amir bowled first in the Super Over. The USA scored 18-1. In response, Pakistan could manage only 13-1. As a result, the USA emerged victorious by five runs.

"We failed to capitalise in the first six overs. Back-to-back wickets always put you on the back foot," the 29-year-old batter said during the post-match presentation. He also highlighted the team's struggle to build momentum early in the game.

Babar said that after his partnership with Shadab, quick dismissals disrupted their momentum. "My partnership with Shadab was promising, but then two wickets fell. And we lost momentum again," he explained.

Babar noted, "Our score was adequate for this pitch, but we need to enhance our bowling." He also underlined the need for better performances from the bowlers, especially in the first six overs. "Our spinners did not take wickets in the middle overs, so these things cost us," he added.

Babar praised the USA team's performance, admitting they outplayed Pakistan in all departments of the game. "All credit to the USA, they played better than us in all three departments," he said.

He also touched upon the pitch conditions, saying "Little bit of moisture in the pitch, it was also two-paced. As a professional, you need to assess the conditions."

Concluding his talk, he expressed optimism, saying the team would bounce back in future matches.

Earlier, India-born left-arm pacer Netravalkar took a miserly 2-18 as Pakistan scored 159/7.

USA innings ended dramatically when Nitish Kumar hit a four off a last-ball full toss from Haris Rauf as the tournament co-hosts, who had beaten Canada in their opening match, finished on 159-3.

Pakistan veteran Mohammad Amir was entrusted with the Super Over but bowled several wides, with panic fielding leading to wild overthrows, also helping the United States score 18 runs.

Netravalkar bowled a wide with the third ball of his Super Over but with the next delivery, he had Iftikhar Ahmed brilliantly caught low down in the deep by Kumar.

With seven needed off the last ball, Shadab Khan was unable to manage the six that would have forced a second Super Over.