NEW YORK: Stating that the team is trying to reduce the mistakes that led to consecutive narrow defeats at the hands of the United States and India, Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf says the focus is now on winning the match. against Ireland.
“We played good cricket as a team. Obviously, you make mistakes and you see them and then we try to reduce the mistakes we’ve made. We believe in ourselves and we will try to play good cricket in the future,” Haris said while answering a question during his media chat after Pakistan’s seven-wicket win against Canada in New York on the reasons behind the green shirts Poor performance in the first two games of group A of the tournament.
On Pakistan’s chances of advancing in the ongoing event, which now depends on results other than their game against Ireland, the fast bowler said the main focus was on winning.
“Winning is very important. You have to set the tone in any tournament, we won today (against Canada), we concentrate on our games and hopefully we win the next game. And then whatever happens, if we qualify, God willing, we will qualify and play good cricket in the future,” he said.
Responding to the question about the reasons for Pakistan’s poor performance in the first two group matches, Haris said. Responding to a question about the team’s mental posture, which was affected after losing against the United States and India, after the comfortable win against Canada, the pacer said a win always helped boost confidence.
“Obviously, today’s victory gives us a lot of confidence, morale rises and we support each other a lot to reduce errors,” he said.
On his form after returning from injury, the bowler said: “I am back after injury and I will try to give the same performances that I have done in the past for Pakistan.
“I had a lot of confidence in myself and I regretted the mistakes I made. I learned a lot from them, I improved my bowling and (with this) it makes you hungry to perform.”
Responding to a question about his below-par performance as a lower-order batsman in the ongoing World Cup, Haris said it was tough to bat in New York.
“The conditions in New York are not easy for hitting. (Still) as a bowling unit, we have tried to keep the totals on the lower side so we can follow them easily.”
Commenting on reaching the 100-wicket mark in T20 Internationals on Tuesday, Haris said the team’s cause was much more important: “I don’t have any goal (for myself). I can take 200-300 wickets but I don’t think there is anything bigger than taking even one wicket for Pakistan,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 13, 2024
