Andrew Puttick, Pakistan's batting coach, expressed hope on Wednesday that despite three consecutive losses, the Pakistan cricket team still harbored aspirations of securing victories in the upcoming World Cup matches.
The team currently occupies the fifth spot on the points table, having suffered defeats against Afghanistan, Australia, and India. To have a shot at reaching the ICC World Cup semi-finals, they must win all their remaining matches.
In an interview with Geo News regarding Pakistan's chances of progressing to the tournament's final four, Puttick maintained an optimistic outlook. He acknowledged the team's challenging position, stating, "Our backs are against the wall, but we still have a chance, and there's no option now. We have to go and perform at our best.
I'm quite confident that we can turn things around, starting on Friday." After an embarrassing loss to Afghanistan, Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, admitted that the team had faltered in all aspects of their game but declared their determination to fight back in the upcoming fixtures.
The next challenge for Pakistan is a match against South Africa on Friday, October 27, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Proteas have been a formidable force in the tournament, winning four out of their five matches.
Puttick, a former South African cricketer, emphasized the need for Pakistan to deliver their best cricket to overcome a team in such good form. Following three consecutive defeats, team morale was understandably low, but Puttick shed light on their renewed determination, saying, "Yes, the boys were hurting a bit. It's been a tough couple of days, but I think everyone woke up this morning really eager to get out on the field again on Friday and put in a strong performance."
When asked about the specific areas where Pakistan needs improvement to challenge the strong South African side, Puttick stressed the importance of bringing their A-game.
He noted that South Africa was the in-form team in the tournament, excelling in batting, taking wickets with the new ball, and performing well in the field. To compete with them, Pakistan needs to execute their plans effectively and perform at their best level, focusing on each ball of the game.