Pakistan’s journey to the current T20 World Cup final has been fraught with ups and downs. Although many had given up on them after their losses to India and Zimbabwe, Babar Azam’s team managed to beat New Zealand in the semifinals to advance to the final, where they will face England on Sunday. Vice-captain of Pakistan Shadab Khan spoke in-depth about the atmosphere in the locker room following defeats to India and Zimbabwe prior to the championship game.
Regarding the match against India, Shadab stated that despite losing, his teammates gave it their all and that Pakistan was the superior team. “We just wanted to give our 100 percent. We knew if we give our 100 percent, the result will come on our side. And that game, we gave our 100 percent. We didn’t finish it but we knew that we are a better side than them,” Shadab said during a chat with Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports.
Shadab added that any match between Pakistan and India is more than just a game. “Pakistan-India game is a big game. For us. For them as well. So, we have to try to win that game. Since childhood we also think, doesn’t matter about the other things, if we are winning the World Cup or not….we have to beat India. And the same pressure we are feeling now. That’s the pressure you carry. Doesn’t matter if you are playing or not,” he said.
Shadab continued by saying that despite winning both games, Pakistan somehow managed to lose. “I think personally, in both games, we were dominating but like the last three balls of the games…like Nawaz was there on both occasions, and after the Zimbabwe game he came up to me and said, ‘I tried to forget it. But when I wake up….three balls 13 and three balls three…then I said what have I done’. Personally, I felt we played a lot of good cricket but the last overs, we didn’t finish it,” Shadab added.