Khushdil Shah speaking during the post-match press conference:
About today’s conditions and match:
“We lost the toss, but the wicket itself was challenging for us as it was our players' debut, and unfortunately, a few early wickets fell. When Salman Ali Agha and I were at the crease, our goal was to bat deep and put up a target of 140-150 runs, but the opposition bowled and fielded exceptionally well. Our top-order, being inexperienced, faced challenges. However, we are hopeful that in the coming matches, we will perform better.”
About Pakistan batters getting panicked:
“No, there was no panic. It’s just that our team has many junior players, and they still need to learn a lot. Additionally, they were unfamiliar with the conditions, but now they have a better understanding. Hopefully, in the upcoming matches, we’ll see better performances.”
About intent and careless batting:
“From the start, our discussion has been about playing with intent, as modern cricket demands. However, the changed conditions were new for our players, and with three debutants, it was challenging. We are hopeful because the players are working very hard, and although they showed intent, failures happened. Moving forward, as these players gain experience and are given opportunities, our team's combinations will improve, and we’ll see better results.”
About his own performance:
“Given my batting position, either four or five wickets fall quickly, or if not, I only get to bat at the end. My aim is always to take the innings as far as possible and set a good total for the team. I never think about myself; I only think about the team. In such conditions, where a wicket or two can fall, the tailenders are quickly exposed. So my effort is to make the most of my time at the crease to benefit the team."
About bowling:
“Our bowlers tried their best; there were several instances where the batters got lucky, even though they tried repeatedly. Naturally, when the target is small and the opposition doesn’t lose wickets, aggression comes easily to them, especially for a team that plays with such intent.”