We Were Prepared And We Had Belief In Each Other - Shaheen Afridi On Preparation Ahead Of India Clash In T20 World Cup 2021
Pakistan pace bowler Shaheen Afridi revealed that Babar Azam and co. were well prepared to face India in the T20 World Cup clash last year in the UAE. Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets courtesy of a batting masterclass coupled with Shaheen’s brilliant opening spell.
The Men in Green had never defeated India in World Cups before but their perfect record was shattered in stunning fashion as Babar and Mohammad Rizwan chased down India’s total of 152 without losing a wicket. Speaking about their preparation ahead of the game, Shaheen said they had a lot of belief.
“Most players were playing for the first time against India in a T20 World Cup, except Hafeez bhai and Shoaib bhai. And for us, it was an opportunity. The kind of cricket we played, we were very prepared and we had belief in each other. The captain’s role is crucial and he backed me and the team a lot.”
“The dressing room environment was quite friendly (“gup-shup wala”). There was a sense that if Shaheen can’t, then Hasan Ali will… and if Hasan Ali can’t, then Haris Rauf will. We had to play our best cricket and make people happy back home. And it was good fortune that we ended up on the right side,” Shaheen told Cricbuzz in an exclusive interview.
“Quite difficult these days to keep me fresh” – Shaheen Afridi on pandemic times
Since the pandemic hit, sporting events have taken a hit. The cricketers move around and stay in bio-bubbles and they have to follow strict protocols which take a toll on their mental health.
“It’s quite difficult these days to keep myself fresh because of covid restrictions. You’ve been trapped in your rooms for the last 2 years, going directly to the ground and it’s honestly quite tough.”
“It might seem easier to people on the outside but trust me, it’s not. You are either tied to your mobile phones when in rooms or chatting up with a teammate, and that’s how you spend all the time. I also read namaz, it gives me peace of mind,” Shaheen revealed.
Pakistan will face India once again in this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
