PAK vs NZ: Babar Azam Holds Bowlers Responsible for Defeat Against New Zealand in 3rd T20I, Says 180 Par Score
Babar Azam points finger at bowlers for loss against New Zealand in 3rd T20I, calls 180 a par score.
According to Pakistan’s cricket team captain, Babar Azam, a score of 180 to 190 runs is optimal for a venue like Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Babar Azam made these comments following Pakistan’s seven-wicket defeat against New Zealand’s B side on Sunday, April 21.
New Zealand had a comfortable victory, chasing down Pakistan’s 179-run target in just 18.2 overs, with Mark Chapman scoring an unbeaten 87 runs from 42 deliveries. With this win, the five-match series is now levelled at 1-1 with two games remaining.
180-190 Par Score At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Babar Azam
During the post-match conference with Babar Azam, when asked if Pakistan fell short of runs due to poor batting performance in the middle phase of the game, here is what the Pakistan captain had to say:
“I don’t think it made much of a difference because we caught up. You could say we were 10 runs short. Unfortunately, we had a setback with Rizwan’s injury, and it wasn’t easy for new batsmen. But I think Shadab [Khan] recovered well and had an outstanding partnership with Irfan. In Rawalpindi, 180-190 is a par score. I think our batting did well.”
It was thanks to Irfan Khan Niazi and Shadab Khan that the Pakistan team managed to gather some runs in the closing overs. Both of them played impactful innings, with Irfan Khan smashing 30 runs from just 20 deliveries, while Shadab Khan scored 41 runs from just 20 balls.
However, this statement received criticism from Pakistan cricket fans, who have been slamming Babar Azam for his defensive captaincy and batting mindset. Let’s take a look at some of the reactions:
