Florida: The Babar Azam-led Pakistan team somehow held their nerves and went over the line against Ireland on Sunday in their last T20 WC 2024 group game in Lauderhill. Pakistan won the game by three wickets and Babar was the star of the show as he anchored his side to a win. Wickets fells around Babar, but he held fort to see his side through with an unbeaten 32* off 34 balls. But despite the win, Pakistan have not made it to the Super 8 stage and that is why the team is facing criticism. Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth reckons Babar should retire from T20s as he does not have a game to survive in the format. Srikkanth slammed Babar over his strike rate.
“Babar Azam, I don’t think he should be playing T20 cricket. Maybe a good/great Test cricketer. But I don’t think he should be playing T20, in my opinion, frankly speaking. I mean, you can’t do this ‘tuk-tuking’ all the time in T20 cricket. You talk about stats, they say 4000 runs – Babar, 4000 runs – Virat Kohli, 4000 runs – Rohit Sharma. Man, his strike rate is only 112-115! What are you talking about?,” Srikkanth said.
The 2009 champions, who were eliminated following their loss to India and the USA in the earlier group matches, restricted Ireland to 106 for 9 after opting to bowl with Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/22) leading the show.
Despite chasing a not-so-daunting target, Pakistan’s fragile batting was once again exposed as they slumped to 62 for six in 11 overs, raising the vision of another collapse. But skipper Babar Azam (32 not out) and Abbas Afridi (17) shared a 33-run stand to take them home at 111 for 7 in 18.5 overs.
Shaheen Afridi hit the winning runs with two mighty sixes in his 5-ball 13 not out. Pacers Barry McCarthy (3/15), Curtis Campher (2/24) and Mark Adair (1/24) bowled their hearts out but Pakistan stood tall in the end as Ireland ended their campaign winless.
While chasing, Pakistan opener Saim Ayub looked in good nick as he slammed a six and two fours before top-edging Adair to keeper Lorcan Tucker. Mohammad Rizwan hit three fours but was sent back by McCarthy when Pakistan were 39 for 2.
