Pakistan look to restore confidence with victory in third England T20
To go into the T20 World Cup with their confidence sky high, Pakistan will need to ensure they end up on the winning side in the third Twenty20 International against England on Tuesday.
After their 23-run defeat in the preceding game on Saturday which followed the abandonment of the opening fixture of the series due to rain a victory at Sophia Gardens will keep the fourmatch series, and Pakistan’s chances to win it alive.
Applying finishing touches to their preparation for the showpiece, set to be held in the United States and the Caribbean from June 2, Babar Azam and co. would want to fly to Dallas for their opener against co-hosts US with momentum behind them.
“The next match is crucial for Pakistan to make a comeback in the series,” Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf said in the pre-match press conference on Monday. “Before heading to a mega event like the World Cup, winning a series boosts the team’s morale and confidence.”
Despite a decent show with the ball and a flying start with the bat in the first T20I, Pakistan struggled in the middle overs, which turned the match in England’s favour.
In phases of the game, however, Pakistan claimed dominance over the hosts, which may have given them a clear idea on what they needed to work on with the World Cup around the corner.
“… as a team, we make mistakes and then work on them,” noted Haris. “The England series is not easy, but we will try to play our best cricket and minimise errors. The World Cup is our main focus, and we aim to win it.”
The match also saw Haris make a comeback from an injury break after picking it up during this year’s Pakistan Super League. -APP