Pakistan captain Babar Azam remarked that the challenging New York surface impacted their hopes of increasing their net run rate and being in contention for a position in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Men in Green needed 17.3 overs to reach the 107-run mark set by Canada on Tuesday, June 11.
Winning by 15 balls to spare helped Pakistan’s net run rate following two tight losses to the United States and India earlier in the competition. However, their net run rate of +0.191 is still lower than the USA’s +0.626. The co-hosts’ dominating victory over Canada was a major factor in the rise.
The net run rate will only come into play if Pakistan wins their last group stage match against Ireland and the United States loses their remaining matches against India and Ireland. The aforementioned situation will leave both teams tied on four points, with the net run rate serving as the decisive factor.
“Good for us, we need this win. We started well with the bowling, in the first six overs we know we had to be up to the mark. It was in our mind (to get over USA’s net run rate), to win before 14 overs but the pitch made it difficult.”
Babar Azam
Earlier, Pakistani bowlers put forth a valiant effort to limit Canada to 106 runs. All four pacers took wickets, while Imad Wasim also bowled a tight session.
Babar Azam scored a run-a-ball 33 during the run chase
Babar Azam batted at number three as opening batsman Saim Ayub replaced Iftikhar Ahmed. The skipper took the field in the fifth over and had a 63-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan for the second wicket, securing Pakistan’s victory.
Babar was removed for 33 runs in the 15th over after edging a ball to the wicketkeeper. He was furious after being dismissed and banged his bat before beginning the trek to the pavilion.
Pakistan’s last group-stage match against Ireland is set to take place in Florida on Sunday, June 16.