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"Pakistan fans should enjoy this & those sitting on TV channels should also do the same": Babar Azam
Coming back from injury in the build-up to the T20 World Cup, Shaheen Shah Afridi continues to go from strength to strength, and looms as a pivotal figure in Pakistan's trophy hopes.
The world-class left-armer was at his brilliant best in spite of a docile Sydney Cricket Ground surface, taking the wicket of Finn Allen up front in the first over, before returning to outfox Kane Williamson with a cunning slower ball.
He finished with 2/24 from his allotment, moving to ten wickets for the tournament, joining Shadab Khan as the most prolific in Pakistan's campaign in Australia.
Of course, Shaheen's significance in Sydney was not lost on skipper Babar Azam, who lauded the quick and the early inroads he made.
"He set the tone," Babar began.
"After the injury, day by day he's improving because you see him playing for the team and performing after the injury."
It's been a slow road for Shaheen to return, who suffered cruciate damage to his knee in a Test match against Sri Lanka in July.
Shaheen is on record saying he struggled to walk at first due to the injury, and the option not to race him back has proved vital, with the 22-year-old looking at close to full fitness.
"He had a little bit of time (to recover)," Babar added.
"He has really been using our experience and now everyone knows he's the best bowler in Pakistan and in the world, so we know he's bowling and he's doing fine out there."
Pakistan were better in all three facets against the Kiwis, punching their ticket to Melbourne on Sunday, the first T20 World Cup final appearance since they won the tournament in 2009.
A journey with the up-and-down parallels of the Cricket World Cup campaign their forefathers had in 1992, Babar does not play down the significance of their 50/50 shot of a tournament win.
"It means a lot. To be honest, we did not start well, but after the South Africa match we had hope, and after that we grabbed the opportunity, then we are playing our best cricket."
"Alhamdulillah, we will play well in the final."
ICC
When Babar was asked whether the team management thought about sending the Pakistan captain at no.3 – which was what most cricket experts in Pakistan were suggesting following Babar's poor patch – the skipper had a rather straightforward response.
“Mere khyaal se zehen me aisa kuch nahi tha. Ham apne waqt ka wait kar rahe the. Ye cricket hai, aap koshish karte hain ki aap har match me perform karein. Par ups and downs chalte rehte hain. Tanqeed sab hi karte hain, ham achha bhi karte hain toh vo karte hain. Ye jeet aap enjoy karein, Pakistan me jo aawam hai, aur jo yahan pe crowd tha, vo bhi enjoy karein, aur jo TV pe baithe hain, vo bhi enjoy karein. (No, we didn't think like that. We were just waiting for our time. You try to perform in every game but ups and downs are part of the game. Everybody criticises, even if we perform well. Now, just enjoy the win, Pakistan fans should enjoy this and those sitting in television channels should also do the same),” Babar said.
In another question regarding criticism on him from former Pakistan stars, Babar stated that he has no problems with it as long as it isn't personal.
“Agar aapko tanqeed kar raha hai… vo mujhe nahi, meri team ko kar rahe the. Har ek ka apna opinion hota hai, lekin personal nahi hona chahiye. Achhi tanqeed karenge toh har banda dekhta hai. Aap bhi karte hain, par aap har cheez ko dekhke karte hain. Personal hona... ham kuch nahi kar sakte. Bas enjoy karein ki ham final me pohoch gaye. (My team was being criticised. Everyone has their opinion, but you shouldn't get personal. If it's productive criticism, everyone listens. You also criticise us, but you see everything. We can't do anything if they get personal. Let's just enjoy that we have reached the final),” Babar said with a wry smile.
Coming back from injury in the build-up to the T20 World Cup, Shaheen Shah Afridi continues to go from strength to strength, and looms as a pivotal figure in Pakistan's trophy hopes.
The world-class left-armer was at his brilliant best in spite of a docile Sydney Cricket Ground surface, taking the wicket of Finn Allen up front in the first over, before returning to outfox Kane Williamson with a cunning slower ball.
He finished with 2/24 from his allotment, moving to ten wickets for the tournament, joining Shadab Khan as the most prolific in Pakistan's campaign in Australia.
Of course, Shaheen's significance in Sydney was not lost on skipper Babar Azam, who lauded the quick and the early inroads he made.
"He set the tone," Babar began.
"After the injury, day by day he's improving because you see him playing for the team and performing after the injury."
It's been a slow road for Shaheen to return, who suffered cruciate damage to his knee in a Test match against Sri Lanka in July.
Shaheen is on record saying he struggled to walk at first due to the injury, and the option not to race him back has proved vital, with the 22-year-old looking at close to full fitness.
"He had a little bit of time (to recover)," Babar added.
"He has really been using our experience and now everyone knows he's the best bowler in Pakistan and in the world, so we know he's bowling and he's doing fine out there."
Pakistan were better in all three facets against the Kiwis, punching their ticket to Melbourne on Sunday, the first T20 World Cup final appearance since they won the tournament in 2009.
A journey with the up-and-down parallels of the Cricket World Cup campaign their forefathers had in 1992, Babar does not play down the significance of their 50/50 shot of a tournament win.
"It means a lot. To be honest, we did not start well, but after the South Africa match we had hope, and after that we grabbed the opportunity, then we are playing our best cricket."
"Alhamdulillah, we will play well in the final."
ICC
When Babar was asked whether the team management thought about sending the Pakistan captain at no.3 – which was what most cricket experts in Pakistan were suggesting following Babar's poor patch – the skipper had a rather straightforward response.
“Mere khyaal se zehen me aisa kuch nahi tha. Ham apne waqt ka wait kar rahe the. Ye cricket hai, aap koshish karte hain ki aap har match me perform karein. Par ups and downs chalte rehte hain. Tanqeed sab hi karte hain, ham achha bhi karte hain toh vo karte hain. Ye jeet aap enjoy karein, Pakistan me jo aawam hai, aur jo yahan pe crowd tha, vo bhi enjoy karein, aur jo TV pe baithe hain, vo bhi enjoy karein. (No, we didn't think like that. We were just waiting for our time. You try to perform in every game but ups and downs are part of the game. Everybody criticises, even if we perform well. Now, just enjoy the win, Pakistan fans should enjoy this and those sitting in television channels should also do the same),” Babar said.
In another question regarding criticism on him from former Pakistan stars, Babar stated that he has no problems with it as long as it isn't personal.
“Agar aapko tanqeed kar raha hai… vo mujhe nahi, meri team ko kar rahe the. Har ek ka apna opinion hota hai, lekin personal nahi hona chahiye. Achhi tanqeed karenge toh har banda dekhta hai. Aap bhi karte hain, par aap har cheez ko dekhke karte hain. Personal hona... ham kuch nahi kar sakte. Bas enjoy karein ki ham final me pohoch gaye. (My team was being criticised. Everyone has their opinion, but you shouldn't get personal. If it's productive criticism, everyone listens. You also criticise us, but you see everything. We can't do anything if they get personal. Let's just enjoy that we have reached the final),” Babar said with a wry smile.
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