Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf said that his team’s “morale is good” despite the heart-breaking losses at the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan lost two closely-contested matches against India and Zimbabwe and sit in the fifth position of the Group 2 table. Ahead of Pakistan’s third fixture against Netherlands on October 30, Rauf said that the team is trying to shut down the outside noise by former cricketers and critics and fully focus on getting back on track.
“It is people’s job to talk, so they will talk. You face criticism in any sport you play,” Rauf was quoted as saying by The News International. “We have come here to play a tournament and our focus is on that. So we try not to listen to them (ex-players and pundits) much and play our game. Even some positive talk can hurt you and negative talk can also hurt you.
“We haven’t had the kind of start that we wanted. But the team morale is good. There is hurt but we have belief in each other’s abilities. We have bonded well, sat together and tried to address our mistakes. There is no weak or strong team in a World Cup. Everyone playing an international game and has come to win the cup.”
Virat Kohli’s masterclass at Melbourne Cricket Ground helped India to secure a four-wicket win over Pakistan in the final-over thriller. A no ball and two wides by Mohammad Nawaz cost Pakistan their opening match in the fully packed venue.
In their second match, Pakistan’s batting lineup crumbled while chasing a modest 130 against 11th-ranked Zimbabwe. Pakistan fell short by just one run after two run outs on the last two balls. Although Netherlands, too, lost their first two matches, Rauf said that Pakistan would not take them lightly.
“There is no weak or strong team in a World Cup. Everyone playing an international game and has come to win the cup,” Pakistan pacer said.
