T20 WC: Pakistan morale ‘high’ before Namibia clash
Senior Pakistan all rounder Shoaib Malik feels Pakistan’s morale is ‘high’ after win over India ahead of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against Namibia in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Pakistan have raced to three wins in as many games starting with a resounding ten-wicket opening fixture victory over arch-rivals India followed by New Zealand and Afghanistan.
They need another win to qualify for the semi-finals from Group 2 of the Super 12 stage.
Team Pakistan had an extensive nets and training session at the ICC Academy, a day ahead of their #T20WorldCup clash against Namibia in Abu Dhabi.#WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/l7aYdZO0Ri
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 1, 2021
“The morale in the camp is high,” said 39-year-old Malik before Tuesday’s meeting.
“When you win games, the confidence level is quite high in the dressing room. Everyone is looking forward to playing the rest of the games we have left in the tournament.
“When you start your tournament against a big team (India) and then you win that game, then everything comes in your dressing room.”
Malik, whose tennis star wife Sania Mirza is from India, refused to comment on their arch-rival’s abysmal show in the event, saying “we are focused on our own performance and not looking around.”
Malik praised the intensity in the set-up.
“Obviously when you start the tournament, the goal is to give your best shot as a team,” he said.
“But since I’ve joined the team, I’ve seen Pakistan teams practise sessions and the way they have been dealing with pressure from the world until now, it’s been exceptionally well,” he added.
Pakistan have never played a T20I against Namibia while they won the only ODI between the two sides in the 2003 World Cup (50 overs) with a 171-run margin in South Africa.
But Malik said Namibia, who qualified from the first round and have beaten Scotland, will not be taken lightly.
“To be honest, we are not thinking any different because T20 format is where you can’t take the opposition lightly,” he said.
“And we are fully confident, so we are looking forward for the game.”
Pakistan have played the same eleven in all three games but considering a relatively easier opponent, ranked 15th in the world in the format, they could rotate their side.