T20 World Cup 2024 | "I am upset": Pakistan skipper Babar Azam

Babar Azam (Pic: File Pic)

Following their T20 World Cup 2024 opening match defeat against the USA, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam accepted that his side fell short by taking things lightly against the World Cup debutants. USA registered their second consecutive win in the T20 World Cup 2024.

The defeat was a stark reminder of Pakistan's unpredictability, which has often seen them lose to teams that may not seem strong on paper. The "Green Shirts" in the last T20 World Cup lost to Zimbabwe in Australia and recently faced defeat against Ireland during the bilateral series.

"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.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan's home crowd expresses disappointment following the loss vs USA

The skipper was critical of his side's performance as Pakistan were simply outplayed by the debutants. "I am upset. We are not playing good in all three departments."

Pakistan were reeling at 26/3 but Babar and Shadab Khan managed to score 63 in the next six overs. When it looked like Pakistan had gained momentum in the T20 World Cup 2024 match against the USA, Nosthush Kenjige claimed the scalps of Shadab and Azam Khan off successive deliveries in the 13th over with Babar following them a couple of overs later.

"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," Babar pointed out.

"So, as a batting unit, we need to step it up in the middle and towards the end," he said. Pakistan were unable to deliver performances with the ball as well. Spinner Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed were bashed for 37 runs in their four overs.

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan team will lock horns with arch-rivals Team India in their next T20 World Cup 2024 fixture on June 9.

"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 the game in the Super Over, the credit goes to the US team," Babar said.

(With PTI Inputs)