Before USA match, Babar Azam: ‘We will give them the respect’

In the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan will play the United States of America on June 6 at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The USA defeated Canada in the opening match of the tournament to begin their campaign. In addition, they won the T20I series against Bangladesh handily before the main tournament.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam said before the match that his team would not take the United States lightly. Before the game, he squashed any symptoms of complacency within the team. Babar joked that the conditions in the USA and the West Indies, where the World Cup is being held, will put the best teams to the test. All 20 of the contending teams have an advantage going into the event, he continued.

“When the USA plays a former champion on Thursday, it will be a proud moment and a big occasion.” They have proven they deserve to be here, which is great news for the promotion and development of cricket in the area after defeating Canada in the tournament opener and Bangladesh 2-1. Babar Azam said in a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board, “We will treat them with the respect they deserve without becoming complacent.”

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“All 20 teams have come with the belief that they can win the competition. The allure of world championships, he continued, is that they are always thrilling but also incredibly demanding and rigorous.

The horses-for-courses rule shall be adhered to while choosing the team: Babar Azam

Pakistan is among the select few teams that have struggled with lineup decisions. Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan, the new opening duo, are not performing well. During the England series, Babar Azam, ranked number three, appeared out of touch. In the midst of all of this, the 30-year-old disclosed that the team will make adjustments based on the opponents they face.

“Given the unfamiliar conditions in the USA and a few opponents we have never faced before, we will choose our team according to the horses-for-courses policy. The idea of floating players has become more crucial in today’s cricket than it has ever been, and our players understand this as well as their roles and responsibilities,” he said.