Pakistan is set to take on England in their last pool match of the ICCMen’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in Kolkata this Saturday. Currently positionedfifth in the 2023 World Cup points table with eight points and a net runrate of +0.036, Pakistan aims to secure a spot in the semi-final by eitherdefeating England by approximately 287 runs when batting first or witharound 284 balls to spare while chasing the target.
In the pre-match press conference, Captain Babar Azam expressed confidencein his team’s ability to secure a victory, emphasizing the importance of astrategic approach. He shared insights into their planned net run-ratestrategy against England, focusing on a structured approach rather thanblind slogging.
Addressing concerns about potential elimination, Babar highlighted theunpredictable nature of cricket and remained optimistic about their chancesin the upcoming match.
Dismissing notions of feeling the weight of captaincy, he asserted that hehas not succumbed to pressure during his three-year tenure. Babaracknowledged the support received from Indian fans and addressed criticismregarding his strike rate, clarifying that his primary focus has alwaysbeen playing for the team.
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Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, he identified the failure toexecute their overall plan as the primary factor behind their shortcomings.Regarding ongoing speculations about his captaincy, Babar stated thatdiscussions will only take place once the World Cup concludes, emphasizinghis current focus on the remaining league match.
He concluded by debunking the notion that Pakistan has consistentlyunderperformed in World Cups since 1999, highlighting their success inwinning the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy.