Misbah-UL-Haq
Misbah-UL-Haq[photo: Outlook India]

Misbah ul Haq, a former captain of Pakistan, acknowledged that his country put up a strong fight in the championship game but lambasted them for their “laid-back approach” during key moments.
Pakistan was legitimately in the game in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground up to the beginning of England’s chase’s 16th over. And this despite the squad only being able to set a goal of 138.

Pakistan, ENG vs PAK
Image Credits: Twitter

England was put on the back foot by the aggressive pace onslaught. However, England had a chance to turn things around with to Shaheen Afridi’s injury and skipper Babar Azam’s decision to send Iftikhar Ahmed to bowl the 16th over. England won the title for the second time in history after 14 balls.

After Pakistan’s five-wicket defeat, Misbah ul Haq told A Sports that Pakistan’s inability to handle the pressure in the final and their lack of composure caused them to make costly errors. Pakistan, he said, lacked discipline, was unprepared for battle, and adopted a relaxed attitude.

Pakistan
Image Credits: Twitter/ICC

“Pakistan made an outstanding effort.” They kept fighting. But, in my opinion, they couldn’t handle the pressure. The pressure of a final…I had the impression that we were under pressure and couldn’t carry out our ideas. We made mistakes because we were agitated.”

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“In both batting and bowling, we clearly lacked discipline and game knowledge. “In such a major match, if you take a relaxed approach, one mistake may cost you a lot,” Misbah ul Haq remarked.

“Shadab should have batted next because of match-ups”: Misbah ul Haq

When Adil Rashid bowled Babar Azam, Pakistan sent Iftikhar Ahmed to bat rather than Shadab Khan, in Misbah’s opinion, they made a tactical error. Rashid believed Shadab, a stronger spinner, could have handled the leggie before Iftikhar was called in at the latter end of the inning to target the pacers because he still had an over left.

“As correctly pointed out, Babar was dismissed in the 12th over after we had regained momentum in the match and had appropriately delivered the punch to England.” Due to matchups, Shadab should have batted first. You must be proactive; you cannot rely on chance” Misbah ul Haq said.

Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmad
Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmad (Image Credits: Twitter)

“It’s ridiculous not to use all of the statistics available, which plainly shows that one of your top batsmen against that sort of bowling…and he had another over left. Iftikhar might have come in late and hit those shots square of the wicket. Then Shaheen’s injury was a huge setback,” Misbah ul Haq Added.

Ben Stokes and Sam Curran shone as England defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday and became the first team to win both the 50-over and 20-over championships in the history of the game.

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