Presently, Pakistan maintain six factors, positioning them in fifth place inside the 10-team desk. Nevertheless, their pathway to the semi-finals faces substantial hurdles, with Australia in fourth place boasting eight factors and a recreation in hand.Equally, New Zealand holds the third spot, additionally with eight factors, having performed one recreation fewer.
The state of affairs leaves Pakistan with a tricky problem to overhaul these groups within the standings to safe a coveted semi-final spot. Regardless of the percentages, Azam stays optimistic and hopeful that his staff could make a robust push within the remaining matches to vie for a spot within the semi-finals.
“Sure. We are attempting to win our subsequent two matches and let’s examine the place we stand,” stated Azam after a seven-wicket romp over Bangladesh gave them a 3rd win in seven matches.
“We are going to take a variety of confidence into these matches.”
Pakistan face the Kiwis on Saturday in Bengaluru earlier than ending their group marketing campaign towards England in Kolkata on November 11.
In addition to two wins, the 1992 champions will want different outcomes go their manner if they’re to remain within the match.
On Tuesday, Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed three wickets whereas openers Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique made 81 and 68 respectively as Pakistan chased down a 205-run goal for the lack of three wickets with 105 balls to spare.
“We all know when Fahkar performs the best way he can for 20-30 overs it’s a totally different ball recreation. So we let him play his pure recreation and it’s good to see,” stated Azam of Zaman, the one Pakistan batsman to have scored a double century in one-day worldwide cricket.
Azam added: “We began properly. Shaheen took early wickets. The primary factor is we caught to our size within the center overs and we took wickets.”
ICC World Cup: Pakistan gamers skip dinner at lodge, order biryani, kebabs, chap from Kolkata’s well-known restaurant
Bangladesh turned the primary staff to be eradicated after six losses in seven video games.
“At this second we now have to carry out collectively in all three departments. It isn’t any particular person that may win us video games,” stated captain Shakib Al Hasan.
His staff nonetheless have two video games to play within the round-robin stage towards Sri Lanka in New Delhi on November 6 and towards Australia in Pune 5 days later.
“We want collective performances. Two extra matches hopefully we are able to bounce again,” stated Shakib, enjoying in his fourth World Cup.
“The followers supported us and are behind us whether or not we’re doing properly or not. Now we have to offer one thing again to them to allow them to smile.”
(With AFP inputs)
