Disappointed Wahab says Pakistan 'defeated ourselves' versus Bangladesh

Pakistan had everything going their way in their third T20 World Cup fixture against Bangladesh. It was a low 124-run total they were pursuing. They were batting smoothly at 49 for no loss in the eighth over. But they still managed to turn it against themselves as the game ended in Bangladesh's favour.

Defeated ourselves

Batters collapsed for low returns and before Pakistan could fathom it, Bangladesh were on top of them. Pakistan head coach Wahab Riaz expressed his disappointment, saying that his side defeated themselves.

"When you are 72 for 2 in 12 overs, [needing] just six runs in an over, and then suddenly - I have no answer for that, to be very honest," Wahab said in the post-match press conference. "I think we have defeated ourselves, and the credit goes to the Bangladesh team that they kept their nerves. I think the credit goes to them."

Not only does Wahab think Pakistan should have ended the game in a win, but also that they should have snatched the victory two to three overs before the game actually ended. Pakistan were well-set to chase the target but lost seven wickets for just 35 runs.

"I think they bowled well, but there was not that much of spin or grip or turn on the wicket which have created problems for you," Wahab said. "I think it's just the execution. You cannot do it.

"You should have taken the game two-three overs before that. The game should have been finished three overs before that. But if you're letting things go and you're not scoring runs, then any opposition is going to catch you, and things will be difficult for you."

Are Pakistan too reliant on Fatima Sana?

One of the batters returning with low figures was surprisingly the captain Fatima Sana. Sana, on many occasions, has carried the team through such crunch situations. Recently, in fact, against South Africa, she scored a 38-ball 55 to rescue Pakistan in the first innings after a collapse. 

When asked if Pakistan are too reliant on their captain, who comes in late, which makes the batters higher up the order complacent, Wahab echoed that this is a team sport and banking on one player will not get them consistent results.

"See, it is not about the expectations, it's about the courage or the skills she has," Wahab said. "So it's not about that Fatima will save you in each and every game.

"As I always say, cricket is about 11 players or 15. It's not about one individual. So you cannot expect the same things going again and again by one individual. It has to be a combined effort from the team."

Pakistan are now out of the T20 World Cup, with two games still left. Wahab says Pakistan have only themselves to blame for the early exit.

"It is very disappointing to be out of the World Cup because from our point of view, I still think that no other team has beaten [us]. It's you yourself who has got beaten by the other teams.

"I think it is a big difference when the other teams try to put up a good show and they beat you. But I think unfortunately in all the last three games, we were not up to the mark and it was us who has given the games away."

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