Star batter Mohammad Rizwan says Pakistan can beat any team
Mohammad Rizwan has insisted that Pakistan can beat any team in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals after they romped into the last four with another clinical win over Namibia on Tuesday.
Rizwan was declared man of the match for his 50-ball 79 not out as he put on 113 with team captain Babar Azam (70) to guide Pakistan to an imposing 189-2 in their 20 overs.
The pair had to weather an early storm from Namibia’s Ruben Trumpelmann but came through with flying colours.
Namibia managed 144-5 in their reply losing by 45 runs in Abu Dhabi.
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With four wins in as many Super 12 matches, Pakistan are the first team to reach the last four.
Pakistan will face the runners-up of Group 1, likely to be either Australia or South Africa.
Pakistan focused on themselves
Rizwan said his high-flying team aren’t bothered by who their opponents are.
“We don’t see the rival team,” said Rizwan.
“Whoever comes in the semi-finals we can take them on and the way our team is doing we will win that as well.”
Rizwan now has two man-of-the-match awards at this T20 World Cup after he knocked 79 not out against arch-rivals India in their opening game.
Rizwan said Pakistan had entered the Namibia match with a different plan, as they raised eyebrows electing to bat on a pitch that was aiding seamers.
“We want to see how we do if we bat first and the plan given to us by coaches was to score 190 plus and thankfully we managed that,” said Rizwan.
Pakistan were off to a slow start, scoring just 59 runs in the first ten overs before smashing 130 in the next ten.
“I think Namibian bowlers bowled the first six overs very well and that is why we did not get quick runs but later on Babar and I got acceleration and that helped,” said Rizwan.
Rizwan and Babar also put on an unbroken 152-run stand to overhaul India’s below-par total.
“People used to say that we are not power hitters but we are managing and thanks Almighty doing well,” said Rizwan of the opening stands with Babar.
“We support each other and that is paying good rewards.”
Pakistan take on Scotland in their final T20 World Cup Super 12s match in Sharjah on Sunday.