EXPECTATIONS were high from the Greenshirts to repeat the epic of 1992; hence, our cricket-frenzy nation might be bit disappointed by facing defeat at the hands of England in the final of T-Twenty World Cup but the way our team made a strong come back in the tournament and then also demonstrated the same fighting spirit in the final despite putting up a low target, is really commendable and something which the fans should be proud of.
In fact our team proved itself as one of the best in the tournament which can give a tough time to any side.
Winning and losing is part of any game. It does not matter what the result is when the team gives one hundred percent and fights till the last ball.
The same fighting mindset was very much visible in our players in the final against England.
Our batting order did not click but the way our bowlers and fielders responded was up to the mark and this is the reason the Greenshirts are not being criticized this time around rather being praised for putting up a brave show.
We really played like champions. We believe the result would have been different if fast bowler Shaheen Afridi had not got injured at a very critical moment of the game.
We can just say that it was the luck that was not on Pakistan’s side on Sunday.
However, it will also be unfair not to appreciate the performance of the English team which played some good cricket in the tournament and maintained the same momentum in the final too, thus adding to the 50 over title they won three years ago.
England has really transformed itself as a very strong team over the last few years- the credit of which goes to their management.
As regards Greenshirts, they should keep the momentum gained from the T-Twenty World Cup forward in the future fixtures while learning from the mistakes it made especially in the batting.
We should start preparations for next year’s fifty over World Cup. We have some excellent batters and all rounders which have the capability to take on any good bowling side but the team management will have to utilize them keeping in view the conditions.
For T-Twenty matches, the management will have to seriously consider changing the opening pair.
Captain Babar Azam should come one down as it will also give strength to the middle order and help the team better utilise the power play.
