Despite admitting Hasan Ali’s reprieve to Wade in the penultimate over was the turning point of the match , Pakistan captain Babar Azam backed the pacer fully.
“I can’t even think about dropping Hasan Ali. He is my main bowler and he has won many matches for Pakistan. Players drop catches but he is a fighter and I will back him,” Babar said.
“Everyone doesn’t perform everyday. It was just not his day. He is down and we will lift his mood. People will talk, but we will keep playing,” Babar added.
Rizwan’s milestone
Mohammad Rizwan, the highest scorer of the match, became the first batter to tally 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year despite spending two nights in ICU in the lead-up to the semifinal due to a lung infection.
Babar heaped praise on his opening partner. “Definitely he’s a team man. The way he played today, it was exceptional. When I saw him, he was a little bit down, but when I asked him about his health he said, ‘I will play’.
“And the way he played showed that he’s a team man. I am very confident about his attitude and his performance,” Babar said.