Zaman Khan bowled the final over of Asia Cup Super 4 match against Sri Lanka© Twitter
Pakistan pacer Zaman Khan was tasked with the responsibility of guiding his team to the Asia Cup final as Sri Lanka needed 8 runs to win the match in the final over of the Super 4 match on Thursday. Zaman, who came into the team after an injury to Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, did very well in the first four deliveries, giving away just two runs. But, he went on to concede 6 runs in the last two deliveries, as Charith Asalanka took the islanders into the final of the tournament.
Zaman, taking to Twitter (now X) after Pakistan’s elimination from the Asia Cup, was crestfallen as he posted his pictures from the match with a heartbroken emotion and the caption, “I tried”.
I tried #PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/mpmGG4KZWO
— Zaman Khan (@zamannKhan) September 14, 2023
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam explained his decision to bowl the newcomer Zaman Khan in the final over the match, saying he was adamant of giving his ‘best bowlers’ the final two overs. It was Shaheen Afridi who had bowled the penultimate over for the team.
“In the end, we decided to bowl our best bowlers. That’s why I decided to bowl Shaheen the second last over and then we believed in Zaman Khan for the final over. SL played really well, they played better cricket than us, that’s why they won. We weren’t up to the mark with our bowling and fielding, that’s why we lost,” Babar said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
When asked about one major factor that could have been different, Babar said: “In the middle overs, we are not bowling well. That partnership (between Mendis and Samarawickrama) cost us. We are starting well, we are finishing well, but we are not taking wickets in the middle overs.”
With the loss, Pakistan are out of the Asia Cup while Sri Lanka will face India in the final on Sunday.
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