In a post-match ceremony following the 22nd match of the ICC World Cup 2023, Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, attributed their loss to Afghanistan to their failure to secure early wickets. The game took place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with Afghanistan emerging victorious.
Babar Azam expressed his disappointment with Pakistan's performance, emphasizing the significance of taking wickets in the middle overs when it comes to winning in a World Cup. He acknowledged that while Pakistan had set a competitive total, their bowling performance fell short, particularly in the aspect of taking wickets.
He praised Afghanistan's performance and admitted that Pakistan was not exhibiting strong cricket, notably in their bowling and fielding. Babar Azam noted that even in the second innings, the pitch favored spinners, putting no pressure on Afghanistan's batsmen.
On the same day, Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi shared his excitement about the team's victory over Pakistan. He highlighted the historical importance of this win, considering the past encounters between the two teams. Nabi mentioned that Afghanistan had previously struggled against Pakistan in critical moments but indicated that the team's confidence was on the rise.
He attributed their success to the exceptional performance of Noor, their bowler, who delivered in the right areas. Nabi also reflected on Afghanistan's overall performance in the tournament and their regret over a loss to Bangladesh. Despite this setback, he expressed optimism and gratitude for the support they received from fans and looked forward to future matches in Pune.