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Pakistan’s effort in the present Asia Cup 2023 came to an unsatisfactory finish under the leadership of Babar Azam.
The Men in Green, one of the favourites to win the continental title, lost to Sri Lanka on Thursday, September 14, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and they were eliminated from the competition.
Both teams were in a virtual semifinal, and Sri Lanka ultimately won. On the very last ball of the game, the defending champions successfully surpassed the 252-run target in the allocated 42 overs. Thanks to Mohammad Rizwan’s unbroken 86-ball innings, Pakistan did well to rally from 130 for 5 to record 252 for 7. Iftikhar Ahmed (47), and Abdullah Shafique (52) both contributed significant hits for their teams.
Pakistan, however, was unable to stop the sum. Kusal Mendis scored 91 runs to lead Sri Lanka’s batting effort, and Sadeera Samarawickrama added 48.
Near the end, Sri Lanka lost a ton of wickets, but Charith Asalanka stayed strong at one end and hit an unbroken 49 to take his team to victory.
Babar Azam on Shadab Khan’s poor form
Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Super 4 games was due in part to the rapid deterioration in form of their spin spearhead Shadab Khan. The leg-spinner struggled in Colombo’s favourable environment, despite other spinners having a significant influence. Iftikhar Ahmed, a part-time spinner, took three wickets against Sri Lanka, whereas Shadab only managed one while giving up 55 runs in his 9 overs.
The Pakistani star’s campaign began with a 4-wicket haul against Nepal, but he then struggled against India and Bangladesh, going without a wicket. He managed to take one wicket while giving up 71 runs in 10 overs in the Super 4 match against India. Shadab was having trouble with his form, so captain Babar Azam was questioned about it. Responding, Babar Azam said:
“Shadab is bowling very well but he is not taking any wicket. So that’s why you feel he is not bowling well. He bowls well but unfortunately; he does not take any wickets. He is one of your best bowlers, Nawaz and Shadab.
“Second thing, yes Zaman Khan has shown character and is doing well in the past, in the PSL and in two PSL finals, where he bowled in the last over. So, he has full confidence but an international match is a different thing,” added the Pakistan captain after Zaman Khan failed to defend 8 runs in the final over and 6 runs in the last two balls.
Sri Lanka and India will now play the final on Sunday (September 17). Before that, India will take on Bangladesh in the last Super 4 game on Friday.
