of Pakistan Iftikhar Ahmad Admitted on Wednesday his side was “heartbroken” and still hurt by their painful opening loss to arch-rivals India in the Twenty20 World Cup. From an epic 82 not out Virat Kohli In front of a crowd of more than 90,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, India gave a resounding victory off the last ball. When Pakistan take on Zimbabwe in Perth on Thursday, they have little room for further mistakes, a game they would be expected to win. Middle-order batsman Iftikhar said, “Even after losing such a big match, injuries keep happening. We are heartbroken.”
Iftikhar said morale was high despite heartache and praised the captain Babar Azmi To handle the team after India’s defeat.
A video of Azam joshly talking from the broken part had gone viral.
“We have to learn from our mistakes. Don’t fall, the tournament has just started. We have lost as a team and will win as a team,” Azam said in the widely-viewed video footage.
“The way Babar and the management supported the players was good. Babar and the coaches told us that ‘this was not our last match, everyone tried’,” Iftikhar said on Wednesday.
“So our morale is high.”
Pakistan will be very keen to beat Zimbabwe – ranked 11th in the world in Pakistan’s three – and start their World Cup late.
Pakistan needs a win for their confidence as well.
“Zimbabwe are an international team and we have to play as strong against them as any other team,” said 32-year-old Iftikhar.
“It’s important to play well and have confidence. Players are hungry to perform.”
pakistan fast bowler Haris Roufi Bowled well at the MCG until he was hit for two consecutive sixes by Kohli in a game-changing moment at the end of the 19th over.
Iftikhar said, “Australian pitches are fast and bouncy and we have prepared for it.”
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“Harris is our main strike bowler and we expect him to bowl better here and get a win for Pakistan.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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