Pakistan needs to defeat Namibia in their last game in Colombo on Wednesday in order to advance to the in the T20 World Cup Super Eights after a 61-run thumping by India. Pakistan, who rank third in Group A behind the USA in terms of net run rate, would be eliminated in case of a defeat.
The Netherlands would also have an outside chance of qualifying, but they would need to defeat co-hosts India handily on Wednesday in Ahmedabad.
Spinner Usman Tariq expressed confidence on Tuesday that Pakistan could overcome their crushing defeat by India and advance to the next round.
“Lifting the team is only difficult when you don’t work on your mistakes committed in the last game. We have worked on our mistakes so I think it will not be a tough task. We have a resolve not to commit the same mistakes again,” AFP quoted Tariq telling reporters.
Pakistan came under fire when they asked India to bat and then surrendered pathetically for 114 in 18 overs when chasing a formidable 176-run target.
“We can feel their (fans’) disappointment because the match is watched by the whole nation. So we feel their pain but I am sure when we play them (India) next we will put up a better show,” Tariq said.
Tariq denied rumors that pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi and batting star Babar Azam might be benched against Namibia following subpar performances against India.
“Both Azam and Shaheen have won many matches for Pakistan so if they did not perform well in one game we should not write them off,” said Tariq.
There has only been one previous T20 international match between Pakistan and Namibia.
“Whoever we play we have the confidence to beat them and our goal is to play the final and win the cup which we will try our best to achieve.”
Namibia has suffered defeats in each of their three group games.
