Pakistan’s middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed is confident about turning the series around after losing the first T20I in Dublin by five wickets.
Things didn’t go Pakistan’s way as they failed to defend the 183-run target, which Ireland chased down without much trouble in the last over with one ball to spare.
Even during the first innings, the Babar Azam-led unit was having a difficult time setting a competitive total but Iftikhar’s prowess down the order helped them score 182 runs.
His short but influential cameo of 37 on just 15 balls saw him scoring three fours and as many sixes.
Talking in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, Iftikhar said that he played his natural as that was what was needed at that time. He also admitted that Pakistan didn’t play their best match.
"When I came runs were needed and I played my natural game. The way our team is we didn't perform to that level. We lacked in fielding, we dropped a catch and gave away a couple of boundaries as well. This is part of the game and we are hopeful that we will make a comeback in the series with two games remaining," Iftikhar said in a video posted by PCB.
He then added that Pakistan possess the quality to turn the series around and will win upcoming matches to go to the T20 World Cup 2024 with full confidence.
"With the quality our team has, we can make a comeback against Ireland. We will try to win our next series against England and take confidence into the upcoming T20 World Cup," he concluded.
Squads
Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan
Schedule of remaining matches
May 12: Second T20I at Clontarf
May 14: Third T20I at Clontarf
- Iftikhar Ahmed