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COLOMBO: Spinner Usman Tariq said Tuesday he was confident that Pakistan can bounce back from their T20 World Cup drubbing against India and seal qualification for the next round.
India’s 61-run romp means Pakistan must beat Namibia in their final match in Colombo on Wednesday to qualify for the Super Eights.
A defeat would eliminate Pakistan, who are third behind the USA on net run rate in Group ‘A’.
It would also leave an outside chance for the Netherlands to qualify, but they would need a big win over co-hosts India in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
“Lifting the team is only difficult when you don’t work on your mistakes committed in the last game,” Usman told reporters. “We have worked on our mistakes so I think it will not be a tough task. We have a resolve not to commit the same mistakes again.”
Pakistan were criticised for asking India to bat then folding meekly for 114 chasing a stiff 176 target.
“We can feel their (fans’) disappointment because the match is watched by the whole nation,” Usman said. “So we feel their pain but I am sure when we play them (India) next we will put up a better show.”
Usman dismissed rumours that batting star Babar Azam and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi could be dropped against Namibia after poor performances against India.
“Both Babar and Shaheen have won many matches for Pakistan so if they did not perform well in one game we should not write them off,” said Usman. “At the moment, there’s no clarity about the playing XI.”
Usman, who impressed with figures of 1-24 from his quota of four overs against India, admitted that playing in the marquee clash was a career-defining moment.
“Yes, of course. I think the whole nation watched the Pakistan-India match, and people around the world watch it,” he said. “Honestly, I saw it as a big opportunity to make a name for myself. I tried my best, but personally, I feel I wasn’t up to the mark the way I should have been. Hopefully, if I get another chance, I’ll do much better than I did in the last game.”
He also said that Indian batters were “very focused” and they had a clear plan not to lose wickets to him.
“They stuck to it (the plan). I was trying to get wickets according to my plans. In the end, I think it was safe from my side. I didn’t get wickets, but I also didn’t concede too many runs. That helps the team,” said the 30-year-old. “If you bowl in crucial phases and control the scoring, it benefits the team because the other bowler can take wickets from the other end.”
Pakistan have faced Namibia only once before in a T20 international.
“Whoever we play we have the confidence to beat them and our goal is to play the final and win the cup which we will try our best to achieve.” Namibia have lost all three of their group matches but are looking to end the tournament on a high.
“Yeah, it’s definitely (on our minds to end the tournament on a high),” Namibia coach Craig Williams said. “The last three games, each game, we were in position to win. And then we just made small errors which our opposition took advantage of. So we’re definitely looking to end the tournament on a high,”
Williams said his bowlers have specific plans for Pakistan batters but the important thing was to execute the plans.
“They (Pakistan) might be out of form, but they’re still professional good players,” he noted. “We’ve done a lot of research into our opposition. ”
Williams also said that his team has plans to deal with mystery spinner Usman and has seen a lot of videos of him.
Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026
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