Pakistan were beaten by England in the second T20I of the four-match series, at Edgbaston. The Green Shirts are on their final stretch of preparatory games, ahead of the upcoming T20I World Cup 2024. England play hosts to Pakistan for a four-match T20I bilateral series.
Pakistan have had a mediocre outing in Europe so far. Babar Azam & Co. beat Ireland only after mounting a comeback to win the three-match T20I series, 2-1. India's arch-rivals lost the inaugural T20I against the European minnows.
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After beating Ireland, Pakistan have now crossed the border, to face T20I World Cup defending champions, England. After the inaugural T20I was abandoned due to rain, Pakistan lost the 2nd T20I at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Skipper Babar Azam won the toss and put the opposition into bat. Azam's counterpart, Jos Buttler, played a captain's knock (84) as the hosts mounted a 183-run total on the scoreboard. Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged three wickets, with both Imad Wasim and Haris Rauf picking two wickets each.
In response, the visitors fell 23 runs short, being bundled up for 160. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam scored 45 and 32 respectively, but the Green Shirts failed to stand for each other in the run chase. The Pakistan skipper blamed on the batters' inability to stitch partnerships, as Paksitan went 1-0 behind, at Edgbaston.
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What did Babar Azam say about Pakistan's loss to England in 2nd T20I?
Babar Azam blamed the batters in Pakistan's recent loss to England at Edgbaston. The skipper praised the efforts of the bowlers, to restrict the opposition batters to a par-score. However, Azam called out on the inability of the batters to stitch partnerships in the run chase.
It was a par score, our bowlers bowled really well. We needed more partnerships to chase this down, Babar Azam opined after a disappointing loss against England in the 2nd T20I.
Babar Azam said "It was a par score, our bowlers bowled really well. We needed more partnerships to chase this down" 💔💔💔#tapmad #HojaoADFree #ENGvPAK #PAKvsENG pic.twitter.com/yztO9gmKLC
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 25, 2024
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What next for Paksitan?
With two T20I remaining in the four-match series, Pakistan have their tasks cut out before they fly out to the United States for the World Cup. Being 1-0 down after the first two games, Babar Azam & Co. would have to win both of the remaining games, to stand a chance in lifting the bilateral series. Another win for England would hand them the series victory.
Pakistan will face England in the 3rd T20I on May 28, 2024. The clash will be staged at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, with the proceedings kickstarting at 23:00 hours IST.
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