Dubai 10 September : Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq believes that captain Babar Azam is in good form, but it’s his “luck” that isn’t going in favor of the right-handed batsman.Although Pakistan are in the Asia Cup final and will play Sri Lanka in Dubai on Sunday, Azam hasn’t got the big runs in the tournament to date and has scored scores of 30 (against Sri Lanka on Friday) 0, 14 10, and 9.
“Babar is in good shape.It’s just that his luck isn’t working out for him.It is the type of limits he has set against India.A batter with more eyes will say that his performance is perfect.It’s his luck that isn’t working for you,” said Mushtaq in the press conference before the match after Pakistan fell to Sri Lanka by five wickets in the final Super Four match, a rehearsal for the final match on Sunday.
Mushtaq also expressed his confidence in his team’s chances of winning the Asia Cup final when they take on Sri Lanka again on Sunday and said that teams with good players should not make assumptions of the outcome of a game on the basis of the toss.
In the final match of the day on Friday, Pakistan were pushed into the batting first, but were taken out at 121.Sri Lanka’s bowlers mingled as Pathum Nissanka made a fine 55 to help the team to win the Super Four stage.
“Our cricketing has been good in the past against India as well as Afghanistan in the chase.It could be thought that this was not a huge score and Naseem Shah took it home for us, but everyone else batted.
We are sure of getting it right in the final.There are shocks that occur in cricket, especially when wickets are thrown down.Sri Lanka played better cricket and took the win.”
“As as a team, we should not be contemplating the result of the toss.It is painful to lose, but it occurs and we want to be able to take lessons from our mistakes.Fast bowlers are always playing and it is essential to allow them to rest.”
“Sri Lanka will gain confidence from this match into the final, and we will be able to learn and grow towards the final.It is likely that there will be some changes in the final.Some players were resting,” concluded Mushtaq.
nr/bsk
