In the wake of a closely-fought contest in the ICC World Cup 2023, Pakistan’s captain offered his candid reflections on their performance against South Africa. “We are very close, we did not finish well. Very disappointing for the whole team. We fought back very well,” he acknowledged, underscoring the mixed emotions coursing through the squad.
While commending the team’s resilient spirit, the captain recognized an area that needed improvement. “In the batting we were 10-15 short. The fast bowlers and spinners fought well but unfortunately it was not to be,” he remarked, pinpointing a critical aspect that fell slightly short.
The captain also addressed a pivotal moment in the match, highlighting the influence of technology in decision-making. “It is part of the game, in DRS it is part of the game. Had he given it out, it would have favored us,” he mused, indicating how the trajectory of the game could have shifted with a different ruling.
Despite the setback, the captain maintained a forward-looking perspective. “We have an opportunity to win this and stay in the race but not to be. We will try our best in the next 3 matches and put our efforts and play for Pakistan. Let’s see where we will stand after that,” he declared, expressing determination to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
Match Highlights PAKISTAN vs SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP 2023 –
In a thrilling ICC World Cup 2023 match at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, South Africa secured a nail-biting victory over Pakistan by just one wicket. Pakistan chose to bat first and managed a commendable 270 runs, with key contributions from Babar Azam (50), Saud Shakeel (52), and Shadab Khan (43). Tabraiz Shamsi was instrumental for the Proteas, taking four wickets. South Africa chased down 271, facing some setbacks but thanks to Aiden Markram’s exceptional 91, they clinched a one-wicket win with 16 balls to spare. Shaheen Shah Afridi led Pakistan’s bowling with three crucial wickets. With this victory, South Africa claimed the top spot in the ICC points table. Pakistan is in sixth place. Both teams made strategic changes to their playing XI due to injuries.
