After scoring a half-century vs Pakistan, Canada's Aaron Johnson asks Rohit Sharma and his men to beware

Canada's opening batter Aaron Johnson remains optimistic about their chances to reach the Super 8 despite the loss against Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Aaron Johnson said that they would respect Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and other Indian players and would aim to defeat them in their final group game.

Canada suffered a seven-wicket loss to Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Tuesday, June 11. Canada managed to score just 106 runs in their allotted 20 overs. In response, Pakistan chased down the target with 15 balls to spare, registering their first win in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Aaron Johnson top-scored for the Canada team with a well-executed half-century in challenging conditions. Johnson scored 52 runs off 44 deliveries, including four boundaries and as many sixes. The other batters failed to deliver against the Pakistan bowlers, with the second-best score being 13 runs off 14 balls.

Have To Have Respect For These Guys - Aaron Johnson

During the post-match press conference, Aaron Johnson expressed immense respect for the Indian players but highlighted that any team can win on a given day. Johnson emphasized the importance of acknowledging their own capabilities and approaching the game with confidence.

"Again, as I say it's a ball. The ball is very round the moment you walk on the field, anyone can win. Yes, you have to have respect for these guys. They have been doing it for years. There are some of them, like someone like Babar today, he's a legend. I'm pretty sure he will be a legend of the game, right?," said Johnson.

"And going up, hopefully, we get to play against Kohli, Rohit, all of these guys, the list goes on and on. And you have to respect them, but at the end of the day, you have to know that you're a professional cricketer also. And if they did it, you can do it also. So, it's about respecting them, but also respecting yourself," he added.

Canada lost to the United States of America (USA) in a high-scoring encounter before securing a victory against Ireland in their second match. The Saad Bin Zafar-led team will face the Rohit Sharma-led team in their final match at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida, on June 15.

My Best Innings So Far In International Cricket - Aaron Johnson

Aaron Johnson described his performance as the best of his international career. The Canadian batter was pleased to score runs against Pakistan's renowned fast-bowling attack.

"I think it's my best innings so far in international cricket. And growing up, you know that Pakistan, one thing they have is a quality fast bowling attack, right? And to be able to get a decent total on the board for my team, I think that's up there with the top, probably top two best innings for me," Johnson further added.

Mohammad Amir and Haris Rauf impressed with the ball, taking two wickets each for the Asian team. Mohammad Rizwan played a crucial role in the chase, scoring an unbeaten 53 runs off 53 balls, while Babar Azam amassed 33 runs. Rizwan and Babar added a crucial 63-run partnership for the second wicket.

Also read: Adam Gilchrist slams Saleem Malik over his criticism of Imad Wasim after India-Pakistan match