Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has voiced strong support for senior stars Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, despite their recent dip in form, ahead of Pakistan’s must-win clash against Namibia national cricket team on Wednesday at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Tariq highlighted the importance of experience and perspective in cricket, noting that performance fluctuations are part of the sport. He stressed that both Babar and Shaheen have delivered match-winning performances for Pakistan in the past and remain key to the team’s plans.
Learning from Setbacks
Tariq said the team reviews mistakes after every match and focuses on improving rather than dwelling on defeats. According to him, progress depends on identifying weaknesses and ensuring they are not repeated in future games.
He added that pressure is inevitable at the international level, but managing it is part of a professional cricketer’s role. Tariq maintained that the squad has worked on staying composed and that the team does not currently feel overwhelmed heading into the decisive fixture.
Recent Match Struggles
Pakistan’s previous outing exposed several challenges. After winning the toss and choosing to field, the team opted for a spin-heavy attack, but the plan backfired against India national cricket team. A rapid half-century from Ishan Kishan helped India post 175/5 in 20 overs.
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Pakistan’s spin options, including Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan, struggled to contain runs and failed to take wickets. Among the pacers, Shaheen Afridi stood out with figures of 1/31, while captain Salman Ali Agha later described the performance as an “off-day.”
Pakistan’s batting line-up also faltered, collapsing to 114 all out in 18 overs while chasing the target.
Tournament Situation and Qualification Scenario
Earlier in the tournament, Salman Mirza impressed against the Netherlands national cricket team, claiming 3/24. Across 14 T20 internationals, he has taken 22 wickets at an economy rate of 6.36.
Currently, Pakistan sits third in Group A with two wins and one loss, holding a net run rate of -0.403. A victory over Namibia would take the team to six points and potentially lift them into second place, overtaking the United States national cricket team, who have four points from four matches.
Such a result would secure Pakistan’s progression to the Super Eight stage, making the upcoming match a decisive moment in their campaign.
