India and Pakistan faced off each other in their campaign opener of the ongoing 20-20 World Cup 2022 and it was the Men in Blue who pulled off a stunner with a last-ball win against the Babar Azam-led team.
Shan Masood, a player who is an integral part of Pakistan, said that many decisions went in favour of India and claimed that they did not capitalize on crucial moments. Further, Masood admitted to Pakistan’s poor outing and said that his team should improve going forward.
“We didn’t capitalize on crucial moments. We lost in the final ball against India. At one stage we thought we would win when India required 28 runs in 8 balls. A lot of things went in India’s favour. They won the toss, the batting conditions became better when they came to bat. But overall, we played well,” Masood was quoted as saying by NDTV.
The no-ball drama from Pakistan
Among all the eye-catching moments, it was the waist-high no-ball controversy that rocked the cricketing world and many opined that it was fair of Virat Kohli to ask for a no-ball. For the unversed, when India required 13 runs off 3 balls chasing a target of 160, Mohammad Nawaz bowled a full-toss which looked above waist-height in real-time.
However, the umpires obliged Kohli and eventually called it an illegal delivery, which the Indian great hit for a maximum. This did not go well with the Pakistan cricketers and fans who claimed that it was a legal delivery and was below the waist height.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who came in when India required 2 off the final ball, let the delivery from Nawaz slide over the leg side and bagged an extra run for team India. The veteran spinner eventually scored the winning runs for India and it was the Indian great Kohli, who stood up for the team yet again with his unbeaten 82.
As things stand, Pakistan have a lifeline post South Africa’s defeat in their final encounter of the Super 12 stage of the ongoing 20-20 World Cup 2022 on November 6, Sunday. If at all the Men in Green manage to win the game against Bangladesh, they will be through to the knockouts.
