Following Pakistan’s historic victory against South Africa in Karachi, national team captain Mohammad Rizwan attributed the success to divine help. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rizwan emphasized that when Allah’s assistance is with them, records are bound to be made.
Pakistan’s Game Plan and Execution
Rizwan acknowledged the strong start provided by openers Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. However, after losing a few wickets, the team had to reassess their approach. The 32-year-old skipper revealed that he deliberately avoided looking at the scoreboard until the 18th over and focused on executing their strategy in five-over phases, which ultimately proved successful.
Expectations from Babar Azam
Highlighting Babar Azam’s crucial role in the team, Rizwan shared that he, like the rest of the nation, always expects big scores from Babar. He noted that Babar himself feels the pressure to perform and expressed confidence that the star batter will soon deliver a significant innings.
Challenges and Team Resilience
Rizwan candidly spoke about the inconsistency in Pakistan’s cricketing culture, acknowledging that unpredictability is ingrained in their system. He emphasized that the team approaches every match with the same mindset, whether against Zimbabwe or Australia, showing their commitment to a consistent playing style.
Absence of Saim Ayub a Major Setback
Addressing team selection concerns, Rizwan admitted that the absence of young talent Saim Ayub was a significant loss for Pakistan. He acknowledged that Ayub’s presence would have made a difference in the team’s performance.
Babar Azam’s Role as an Opener
Discussing Babar Azam’s batting position, Rizwan praised him as the most composed batter in the team. He stated that Babar’s technical skill and adaptability made him the ideal choice for the opening role, ensuring stability at the top of the order.
Pakistan’s recent win against South Africa, coupled with strategic decisions and strong leadership, sets a promising tone for their future performances on the international stage.
