“We played well in the first six (overs) but after that we didn’t”, Afridi said.
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During Pakistan’s match against New Zealand at Mohali on Tuesday, Afridi said that a lot of Kashmiri people were there to support his team.
Pakistan, winners of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England, are now second but have played a game more than both the Australians and the home nation.
Their path to the semifinals looking relatively easier in comparison, Australia will fancy their chances when they lock horns with a struggling Pakistan side whose hopes hangs by a thread in the ICC World Twenty20, here tomorrow.
The win extended the Kiwis’ unbeaten streak in the tournament and also ensured them a place in the last four.
If India beat Bangladesh and lose to Australia, and Pakistan beat Australia, then Pakistan, India and Australia will all have four points each, and NRR will decide which of those three teams goes through. Australia and Pakistan are taking on each other tomorrow.
‘We know that this is Lala’s (Afridi’s) last World Cup and I have the utmost respect for him.
“New Zealand’s three convincing victories mean they now loom as a favourite to take out their maiden World Cup or World T20 title”, he wrote. The challenge proved to be insurmountable for the Pakistan team, which ended their run-chase with just 158 on the board for the loss of five wickets. “We keep repeating the same mistakes and in this format you win only if you make less mistakes”. We had a good platform.
“We’ve got the mindset of being aggressive and just going out and having a bit of fun”, Guptill said.
Shahid Afridi (19), who was promoted up the order, tonked a six and hit 2 boundaries but fell short as he was picked up by Ish Sodhi. By that time, NZ had come back strongly after the initial burst from Sharjeel Khan. “However, the type of cricket and the kind of performance we are putting up, (we) don’t deserve”, he said.
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Pakistan are all but out of the tournament, but now they will have to beat Australia and wish other results go their way.
