Pakistan cricket team's head coach Gary Kirsten has expressed his disappointment over the team's performance following their narrow defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2024 match on Sunday.
Kirsten highlighted key moments and decisions that led to the loss, despite being in a strong position during the match.
"We made some poor decisions at important phases in the game for us to get across the line. And we had the game in our hands," Kirsten said, adding: "It’s a disappointing loss, that's for sure. I knew 120 wasn't going to be an easy target because if India only got 120, it was always going to be – not the easiest."
"I think we had the game at 72 for two with six or seven overs left at that point. So, disappointing not to get across the line from the position we got ourselves into," Kirsten lamented, emphasizing the team's missed opportunity.
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Despite the favourable position, Pakistan was unable to capitalize. "We were in a position to win and still lost," Kirsten remarked, underlining the frustration of the defeat. He stressed the importance of avoiding such mistakes in international cricket, noting, "If you make such mistakes in international cricket, you will have to face the consequences."
Kirsten also acknowledged India's performance. "India made a good total for this wicket; it was not a small total," he noted, recognizing the challenge posed by the opposition.
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Looking ahead, Kirsten remained optimistic about Pakistan's prospects in the tournament. "We still have a chance in the tournament. We get two wins and we’ve still got a chance to go through," he stated, urging the team to focus on playing good cricket to keep their hopes alive. He emphasized the need for consistent performance, saying, "We have to play good cricket to keep our hopes alive."
Despite the defeat, Kirsten had words of praise for Pakistan's bowlers. "Our bowlers bowled well today," he said.
