The Babar Azam-led side, chasing a modest target of 120, crumbled from 80/4 in the 15th over to 113/7, consuming 59 dot balls in the process.
Kirsten, addressing the media after the match, highlighted the importance of strike rotation on challenging surfaces like the one at the Nassau County International Stadium. “I think certainly on a pitch like that, it is really, really important to be able to rotate the strike. Sometimes it’s fun to watch a game like this where it’s not only about hitting boundaries,” he said.
The former South African cricketer emphasized that Pakistan’s batsmen lost the plot after the 15th over. “We did well for 15 overs and then we lost the plot. We’re losing too many wickets. Players have got to take responsibility when that opportunity comes,” he added.
The coach acknowledged the immense pressure the players are under, especially after consecutive losses to debutants USA and arch-rivals India. “These guys are all international players and they’re aware that when they’re not performing at their best, there’s going to be pressure put on them. That’s understandable,” Kirsten stated.
Missteps in Chase Strategy
Kirsten detailed the team’s strategy during the chase, which was to capitalize on loose deliveries and rotate the strike effectively. However, he lamented the loss of momentum during the crucial phase of the innings. “We kept it at a run a ball for 15 overs, and then we lost wickets, stopped scoring ones, and started looking for boundaries. Once you’ve got to that point, it was always going to be hard,” he explained.
Despite the batting woes, Kirsten praised the team’s bowling performance, particularly in the death overs. “Our record between overs 10 to 20 as a bowling unit is up there with the best. We’ve got four fantastic seamers and Imad Wasim bowled really well today,” he said.
Navigating Pitch Controversy
Kirsten refrained from criticizing the drop-in pitches at the Nassau stadium, which have drawn flak for inconsistent bounce. “I think it wasn’t dangerous. The odd one rose up, but not many. Generally, it kept a little bit lower. It was difficult to score from both batting sides and also a fairly slow outfield,” Kirsten noted. He added that a score of 140 would have been competitive on such a pitch.
Next Steps and Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Kirsten emphasized the need for continual growth and adaptation in international cricket. “I’m having a look into the environment and looking at what the issues are. For every international player, it’s important to continue growing and improving,” he stressed.
Pakistan’s next game is against Canada on Tuesday, a must-win encounter to keep their Super Eight hopes alive. Kirsten remains hopeful but realistic about the challenges ahead. “We need to win big against Canada and Ireland and hope for favorable results in other matches,” he concluded.
(With inputs from PTI)
