Babar Azam opens up after T20 World Cup defeat against England

MELBOURNE: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has opened up after his side lost to England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 final at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.

Speaking during the post-match ceremony, the right-handed batter raised the batting line-up’s falter and asserted that Pakistan were 20 runs short in the first innings.

Babar Azam also coined Shaheen Shah Afridi’s injury as another key factor behind the team’s shortcoming in the mega final.

“First of all I would like to congratulate the England team, it almost felt time like home as everyone came here to support us,” said Babar Azam.

“We were 20 runs short [in the final] but the fight to the last over was unbelievable. Our bowling is one of the best but unfortunately, Shaheen’s injury cost us a different result, but that’s part of the game,” he added.

Meanwhile, the winning skipper Jos Buttler was ecstatic and lauded their veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes’ heroics that guided England to their second T20 World Cup title.

“This is the icing on the cake, to win the T20 World Cup, just immensely proud. A long journey and a few changes, but we’re reaping the rewards. Fantastic tournament,” said Buttler.

“He [Stokes] is the ultimate competitor. In anything he does, a hell of a lot of experience to bank on, he timed it perfectly, the impetus he and Moeen had taken it away from Pakistan,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that England edged Babar Azam-led Pakistan by five wickets in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 at the back of Stokes’ gritty half-century.

Pakistan bowlers fought hard and took the match close but Stokes held his nerves calm to redeem his 2016 World Cup heartbreak into exciting glory.