Win against a big team like India gave Pakistan momentum: Shoaib Malik

Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik said that the win over India on Sunday, October 24 helped Pakistan gain some much-needed momentum in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Babar Azam and Co. won the game by 10 wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi becoming the Player of the Match for his three-wicket haul.

Skipper Babar and Mohammad Rizwan stitched together a 152-run stand to make sure that the Indian bowlers couldn’t make a single breakthrough. Pakistan have won all their three matches in the Super 12 and are sitting pretty on top of Group 2 with a net run rate of 0.638.

They also defeated New Zealand and Afghanistan without having to break much sweat. Azam’s men are next scheduled to lock horns with Gerhard Erasmus’ Namibia on Tuesday, November 2 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The goal is to give your best shot as a team, says Shoaib Malik

“To be honest, of course when you start your tournament and you start your tournament against a big team and then you win that game, then everything comes in your dressing room,” Malik said in the pre-match press conference.

“And I guess momentum and everything has come to us when we played that game. Obviously when you start the tournament, the goal is to give your best shot as a team,” he stated.

“To see consistency in Pakistan dressing room, that’s the biggest thing for me so far, and everyone’s helping each other. And it’s a team game. When you’re playing a team game, then you need your teammates’ help, you need a lot of support from your management. And I see all of that coming,” Malik added.

Although Pakistan are deemed as the firm favourites ahead of their next clash, Malik doesn’t wish to undermine Namibia by any means. The 39-year-old said that Namibia have every chance of springing a surprising if Pakistan drop their guard.

“To be honest, we are not thinking any different because T20 format is where you can’t take the opposition lightly,” he said.

Pakistan’s last and final match in the Super 12 is against Scotland on Sunday, November 7 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.