Lahore: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has said that their win against India in the ICC T20 World Cup was the team’s ‘best moment of the year’. After restricting India to 151/7, thanks to young pacer Shaheen Afridi, Babar and opening partner Mohammad Rizwan put up an unbeaten stand of 152 runs to help their side achieve a one-sided 10-wicket victory in UAE.
Before that, Pakistan lost to India seven times in ODI World Cups and five times in T20 World Cups. However, in 2021, Babar Azam and Co. changed that trend and continued to dominate every side they face. Recalling their 10-wicket win over India, the skipper said, “It was a fantastic achievement for us as a team because we had not been able to beat India in the World Cups for so many years. It was our best moment of the year.”
He also stated that the win worked as a boost for the players to perform better in other matches. He said the win lifted the profile of the team. Praising young talents, Babar said, “The biggest satisfaction was seeing young talent come through for us at crucial times. It is good we are now producing young talent,” said Babar in a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast.
37th edition of PCB Podcast is out now! Follow the link to hear how Babar Azam reviews 2021 along with Ian Bishop and Simon Doull sharing their thoughts on the evolvement of Cricket in Pakistan.
Full Podcast: https://t.co/Dk2K2a0nUi pic.twitter.com/B9LbS3yQz3— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 31, 2021
Despite being the title favourites, India didn’t get the start they needed as the Men In Blue lost their first two crucial matches against Pakistan and New Zealand. However, they won the last three games of the Super 12 stage against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia but it wasn’t enough for a semi-final berth for Virat Kohli & Co. from Group 2.
Pakistan’s performance in the tournament from the start form led many to bill them as one of the chief title contenders, their journey came to a heart-breaking end when Australia knocked them out in the semi-final. Babar further said that their defeat against Australia in the semi-final was the most disappointing one for him. “That defeat hurt me the most this year because we had been playing so well and as a combined unit,” Babar added.
The year 2021 proved to be a prolific one for the Pakistan skipper personally too, as he tallied 939 runs in 26 innings at a strike rate of 37.57 and 127.58 respectively, including nine half-centuries and a century. Babar stood only behind his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan in the list of top run-getters of the format in 2021. Rizwan slammed 1326 runs in the same number of innings as Babar, at an impressive 73.66 and 134.89, with 12 half-centuries and a century.
India and Pakistan both the teams will renew their rivalry later in the year when they square off in the Asia Cup 2022, which will be played in Sri Lanka. They are highly likely to square off in the league stage of T20 World Cup 2022 as well, which will be played in Australia.
