SYDNEY: A resurgent Pakistan declared Wednesday “the sky’s the limit” as captain Babar Azam rediscovered his form to help power them past New Zealand in Sydney and into a Twenty20 World Cup final against either India or England.
Azam and Mohammad Rizwan got off to a flying start in pursuit of 153, putting on a 105-run opening stand in 12.4 overs to set up victory and a place in Sunday’s showpiece at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
If Azam had been under pressure after making just 39 runs in the tournament’s Super 12 stage, he did not show it, reaching his fifty off 38 balls in front of 36,443 strongly pro-Pakistan spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Rizwan’s half-century followed, off 32 balls and they went on to become the first opening pair to post three century stands in T20 World Cup history before Azam fell for 53 off 42 balls.
Pakistan’s seven-wicket win capped a remarkable comeback from the 2009 T20 World Cup winners who had been on the brink of elimination after last-ball defeats to India and Zimbabwe in their first two matches.
“The guys have worked hard and we have always believed,” said Rizwan.
Pakistan beat the Netherlands and South Africa, but still needed the Proteas to choke against the Dutch for an unlikely lifeline, which they capitalized on by beating Bangladesh in their final Super 12 game.
“I don’t think we have seen our best yet, which is probably the scarier part for whoever faces us,” said former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden, who has been a mentor to the team.
“Sky’s the limit. You can never beat down class.”
Pakistan’s bowlers set the tone after Azam lost the toss. Aided by some razor sharp fielding they kept New Zealand to a below par 152-4.
Rizwan became the second wicket to fall with 21 still needed, but Mohammad Haris’s 30 off 26 balls helped complete a deserved, if nervy, victory with five balls to spare.
“Obviously, me and Babar decided to go after the new ball and the pitch was difficult,” said Rizwan, who was named player of the match.
“When we finished the powerplay, the discussion was for one of the guys to go deep.”
New Zealand, who topped Group 1, were aiming to make their second consecutive final, but their hunt for a maiden World Cup again fell short.
Teams batting first had won five from six games played in Sydney this tournament and when New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss he had no hesitation in asking Pakistan to bowl, but it proved to be tough going.
In an eventful opening over, Finn Allen hit Shaheen Afridi for four off the first delivery then was given out the next ball lbw.
It was overturned on review because for Afridi to promptly do the same again and this time it was plumb.
Conway was run out for 21 by Shadab Khan and they suffered a big blow when Glenn Phillips was caught and bowled by Mohammad Nawaz for six.
Daryl Mitchell and Williamson took more risks after reaching the 10-over mark at 59-3, with the first six of the innings coming in the 13th over.
Williamson fell on 46 to an Afridi yorker before Mitchell, unbeaten on 53, and Jimmy Neesham, who scored 16, added 29 runs in the final three overs.
“At the halfway mark we thought we had a competitive total but it was disappointing not to make Pakistan work harder,” said Williamson, who saw his usually sharp fielding side shell a series of catchable chances, including Azam when on nought.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” he said.
“I think if we want to be honest, we wanted to be more disciplined with our areas. Like I said, Pakistan deserved to win.”
‘Sky’s the limit’: Azam finds form to power Pakistan into T20 final
https://arab.news/g29b7
‘Sky’s the limit’: Azam finds form to power Pakistan into T20 final
- Azam and Mohammad Rizwan got off to a flying start in pursuit of 153
- Pakistan's seven-wicket win capped a remarkable comeback from the 2009 T20 World Cup winners
Nacho Fernandez opens up on ‘pleasure’ of Al-Qadsiah journey through Saudi football
- Speaking at ‘Ithra Cultural Days: Spain,’ the former Real Madrid defender says he has enjoyed adapting to Saudi football since joining the Alkhobar club in the summer of 2024
DHAHRAN: Al-Qadsiah’s Spanish captain, Nacho Fernandez, has described his experience at the club as a “pleasure” as he spoke about his experience in Saudi football at “Ithra Cultural Days: Spain” at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture on Thursday night.
On stage with journalist Khaled Alarafah, Nacho opened up about his adaptation to the Saudi Pro League, his role at Al-Qadsiah, and the ways he hopes to contribute to the club’s growth and the development of the sport in the region.
“I feel lucky to be on a very easygoing team because I have wonderful teammates, both foreigners and Saudis,” the former Real Madrid defender said. “In the year and a half I’ve been here, we’ve managed to build a family, and it’s a pleasure to go to training with them every day.”
Born Jose Ignacio Fernandez Iglesias in Madrid, the 35-year-old defender has long been known by his nickname Nacho, a traditional Spanish diminutive of Ignacio.
He joined Real Madrid’s academy at age 10 and went on to spend 23 years at the club, making over 300 appearances for the senior team, winning 25 major trophies and earning 29 caps for the Spanish national team.
Nacho joined Al-Qadsiah, founded in Alkhobar in 1967, in the summer of 2024 shortly after Real Madrid claimed their 15th UEFA Champions League with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. It was a personal sixth medal in Europe’s premier club competition for the player, a joint record.
“What has surprised me the most about the people of Saudi Arabia is the warm welcome; they embraced me and my family with generosity and genuine care,” Nacho added. “Family is very important in Saudi Arabia, just as it is in Spain.”
He also said football supporters across the Kingdom were special.
“I think about the Saudi football fans — they’re just as passionate about football as in Spain,” Nacho said. “I love seeing people with so much passion and I think that’s exactly what sports needs: passion.
“I don’t understand the chanting at the stadiums with the drums, but I imagine they’re meant to cheer the team on,” he laughed as the crowd at Ithra cheered along.
Nacho also highlighted the potential for Saudi football to maintain the remarkable growth it has experienced in recent years.
“I think Spanish football has been established for many more years, it’s recognized worldwide,” he said. “But here, in Saudi, things are emerging but being done very well. In fact, many of us foreigners are coming here to play, and the competitive spirit is important for all of us.”
Al-Qadsiah currently sit fifth in the Saudi Pro League table, and recently appointed former Liverpool and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers as their new head coach. Nacho said that football in Saudi has a different tempo to what he experienced in his home country.
“I would say I notice a big difference, maybe as a defender, I’d say, in Spain the game is a bit more intense, like the whole team is focused on attacking and defending as one block. Here, I notice there’s more space on the field.”
On why he chose to join Al-Qadsiah, he left a glowing review.
“Why this team? Well, because they gave me peace of mind, care and above all, the assurance that my family would be well. So when I started on this new journey, when we made the first contact, I think everything was resolved within just a week.”
For the next step in his career, he is keen on continuing to mentor aspiring players, many of whom seemed to be in the audience at King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithara.
“I’ve been a good leader. Everything I’ve learned in my career I’ve put back to help the younger players and use that experience to win matches,” Nacho added.
“Are we on the right track? I think so. Last year we had a very good season, and this year we are still fighting. The project is where it needs to be, and between the club, the players, and everyone involved, we’ll do everything possible to get back to the top. And we are,” he concluded to roaring applause.
