World Cup: coach Puttick remains unshaken in optimism for Pakistan team’s battles

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s batting coach Andrew Puttick has expressed unwavering optimism about the Men In Green’s prospects in the upcoming World Cup matches.

According to Geo, despite losses to Afghanistan, Australia, and India, the Green Shirts, currently standing fifth on the points table, remain determined to secure their place in the semi-finals of the ICC’s marquee event by winning their remaining matches.

While talking to the media, Puttick acknowledged that Pakistan’s situation was challenging but said that there was no room for surrender. He stated, “Our backs are against the wall, but we still have a chance, and there’s no option now. We have to go and do the business and bring our best. I’m pretty confident we can get the ball rolling starting on Friday.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam accepted the shortcomings of his side, particularly following a disappointing loss to Afghanistan. However, he made it clear that Pakistan was ready to fight back in their upcoming fixtures.

Read More: Muhammad Yusuf urges nation to support Captain Babar Azam

Next on Pakistan’s schedule is a clash with South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, October 27. The Proteas have been a formidable force in the tournament, winning four out of their five matches.

Puttick, a former South African cricketer himself, stressed that Pakistan would need to deliver their best cricket to overcome an in-form South African team.

The recent string of losses had raised concerns about the morale within the Pakistan camp. However, Puttick shed light on the team’s spirits, saying, “Yeah, the boys were hurting a little bit. It’s been a tough couple of days, but I think everyone woke up this morning really raring to go and looking forward to getting out in the park again on Friday and putting in a good performance.”

When questioned about the areas Pakistan needed to work on to challenge South Africa, Puttick noted that the South Africans had excelled with the bat, taken wickets with the new ball, and performed well in the field. Pakistan needed to devise plans and ensure they brought their best game to compete effectively.

Regarding Pakistan’s batting capabilities in comparison to South Africa’s aggressive batting, Puttick stated, “Yes, definitely. We’ve got a quality lineup of batters with their own individual skills and unique ways of playing. On our day, we can compete with any side. So, that’s our thinking. We’ll go with positive intentions on Friday and give it a good go.”