Pakistan needed a miracle to sneak into the Cricket World Cup semi-finals and they were unable to conjure one up at Lord's. The ICC Champions Trophy holders needed to beat Bangladesh by a record ODI total of over 300 runs in their final group match, but could only post 315-9. Pakistan matched New Zealand's tally of 11 points by beating the Tigers, but bowed out on net run-rate. With four wins from their opening eight matches - including the scalps of England and New Zealand - there are plenty of positives for Pakistan to take from this World Cup. Consistency has evaded them, however, and there is an air of resignation to their fate. Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed spoke about his team's World Cup journey. (Video: ICC)
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00:00 If Sarfaraz didn't qualify for the match yesterday, how disappointed would you be as Pakistan's captain and senior player? Especially after such a good recovery and a bad start?
00:16 It is disappointing because of the way we came back in the matches. Things that we didn't have in our hands, the run rate, etc. So, obviously, it is disappointing for the boys. We were expecting that we would get a margin of a little less or a little more. So, obviously, when all these things came out, it is a little disappointing. But the boys are motivated. We tried to do what we had in our hands. And we were in the ground with all the preparation for tomorrow's match. And we tried to win this match.
00:44 Is it a disappointment that you didn't improve the run rate? We had a chance against New Zealand. The team from Afghanistan was such that we could have gone and attacked.
00:51 But if you look at the pitches, it wasn't like you played a lot of open cricket there. Because all the matches that happened in front of you, there was a lot of gain, a lot of ten, a lot of getting stuck. So, it wasn't that easy. So, I don't think there is anything like that. This thing has happened. There is a very large margin of 300-160 runs. But anything can happen. God willing, we will do our best. The rest is up to God.
01:12 Sir, if you look at it, Pakistan has played much better than New Zealand. We have beaten big teams. If you compare it with New Zealand, but the pattern is that Pakistan is apparently playing outside and New Zealand is playing in the semifinals. Do you think there is a pattern that has caused us a little difficulty?
01:30 Look, it was already decided about the patterns. Everything was already made. How can I say that we are unlucky that our first match was the West Indies match because we didn't come in that match. And we got out on very few runs, which is why we got a lot of margin in the run rate.
01:49 Sir, if you look at the history of Pakistan, our performance in the Champions Trophy was very good. But whether it was the 2003 World Cup or the 2007 World Cup or the 2015 World Cup, you were also there. So, our history has a lot of motivation and encouragement that we will win and go ahead. People have a lot of hope.
02:09 So, now there is disappointment. You are also disappointed. So, what is the solution to these things? Our cricket goes very high, like in the Champions Trophy, and then it comes down. So, what do you think, why is there a fluctuation?
02:21 If you talk about fluctuation, you will see it from the beginning. There is nothing new. But if you look at it, I think things are much better. If you talk about it, you see that your team has won throughout the tournament. Your team has played against good teams.
02:36 Although we have two semifinalist teams, England and New Zealand. So, we played good cricket. Obviously, we didn't play good cricket in some matches in the beginning. But if you look at the situation now, the way we came back, I don't think any other team has come back in this tournament.
02:49 Sarfaraz, if you ask one point in this entire World Cup campaign, which point did Pakistan miss that made Pakistan have to face this situation today?
02:59 Look, obviously, it's a West Indies match, but the most important match, if you look at our entire journey, it was the match against Australia, where our position was very good. If we had won that match, I think the position would have been much better. So, I think the match against Australia was the standing point because we had the things in our hands and as a team we lost that thing.
03:20 Sarfaraz, your two openers, Imam and Fakhar, both couldn't play big innings. There were one or two matches where they gave a good stand. Then your two senior players, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez, Hafeez also had a big innings. He was out on part-time bowlers. Do you think your batting let you down?
03:39 You can say in the opening matches that the batting didn't play big innings, but overall, our boys didn't score big innings, but everyone has scored their part. Being out on part-time, unfortunately, Hafeez tried, but he was out.
03:56 I don't think that we did good batting in the opening matches, but if you look at the last few matches, boys needed it, even though there were small runs, 20-25 runs, those are also of great use. Everyone chipped in little by little.
04:11 Yes, it is necessary that we didn't get a long inning. We should have scored centuries, as you saw throughout the tournament, that the centuries are being scored from the top order. So, we did run in our bats, but didn't score long.
04:23 Sir, normally, in Pakistan cricket, the team is out, and the game starts on the upper side. Are you seeing any danger to the captain after the World Cup?
04:32 Look, all these things will be decided after the World Cup, and the PCB understands better what to do after the World Cup.
04:38 Sir, after the World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to improve cricket. Pakistan has played a lot of cricket, as a captain, what would you suggest? What are the things that need to be focused on? What are the incidents that happen outside the World Cup?
04:58 Cricket-wise, I am asking? Obviously, you know that after the World Cup, there is a gap of 2-2.5 months between the teams. Obviously, the PCB will sit and see what needs to be improved.
05:11 Obviously, the managers will give their reports, the coaches will give their reports. The best possible for Pakistan Cricket, the PCB will definitely do.
05:17 Sir, Shoaib Malik has said that this is his last World Cup. In the last few years, the players who have gone have been humiliated. He didn't even get a chance to play his last match.
05:30 Maybe you have given him a chance, but there are many other players. Did the team management decide to let him go, that he will be humiliated like this?
05:38 As far as the team is concerned, I have already said that we have not seen the pitch. We have to give a final look, because he did not prepare the pitch well yesterday.
05:48 We will see the final look and will do our best to get the best possible playing level.
05:52 We have seen that two teams have lost in the semi-final. Do you think that the net run rate will be a factor in the head-to-head situation in the next matches?
06:14 I think the best is always in everything. The tournament is better, but the head-to-head situation is also important.
06:24 If the head-to-head situation is better, then the team will have a better run rate.
06:29 For example, if we win today, then tomorrow we will win. So, the team is better in everything.
06:34 But if you look at it, we have defeated both the teams and with good margins.
06:41 Sir, I hope that we will go ahead. But the chances are clear. If they win the toss and bat first, then the situation will be clear.
06:53 You just said that the PC will decide, but a person has his own wishes.
06:57 Is Sir Faz wish that he continues later as a captain or is considering that the formats in which he is not able to perform or the talks are going on,
07:06 you should leave his captaincy. In the same way, Mickey Arthur's tenure is over.
07:11 Do you think Mickey Arthur is necessary for Pakistan or should the change come now?
07:15 Whatever has to be decided, the PCP has to decide. And whatever is in my heart, God willing, it will remain in my heart.
07:23 PCP has to decide. You know everything that the PCP has to decide. God willing, the PCP will do the best for everyone and for Pakistan.
07:33 Sir Faz, in the whole world, do you feel more satisfied as a captain or as a player?
07:41 If you look at my performance, it is not extraordinary, but I have tried to do my best in my team.
07:56 But you can say that it was a good performance.
07:59 Sir Faz, there were many players who were disappointed in this tournament. Talk about Fakhar Zaman, talk about Hassan Ali.
08:09 What would you say about their performance?
08:12 Look, all the boys tried their best to perform well for Pakistan in the tournament.
08:17 But sometimes it happens that a person is trying but he is not able to perform.
08:22 But I think that if you look at the overall, we performed well as a team.
08:26 We were not able to qualify. If you talk about Fakhar, he has done runs but not long runs.
08:33 He started the team where it was necessary in good matches.
08:37 Like you will see, in the South African match, it was necessary to have a good partnership.
08:41 He gave a 70-80 run stand there.
08:44 If you talk about England's match, which we won from England, there was a good opening.
08:48 He did 40-40 runs there, but he could not do long runs.
08:52 Similarly, Hassan is a player of a very good team.
08:56 Whenever he plays, he puts in effort. Whether there is a performance or not, it is a matter of luck.
09:00 But your effort should be visible. Both the players did their best.
09:04 But unfortunately, they could not perform well.
09:08 Sir Faz, Pakistan won the Champions Trophy in your captaincy.
09:11 Then we lost to Bangladesh in the Asia Cup and were eliminated from the finals.
09:14 And in this World Cup too, after the 2017 Champions Trophy,
09:18 we lost to Australia, New Zealand, England.
09:22 Pakistan's team started their downfall after the Champions Trophy.
09:25 Because you can see this in the stats.
09:27 Next question please.
09:29 Sir Faraz, you have played well in the last few matches of this tournament.
09:42 But many youngsters have played well this time.
09:44 Shaheen, Afridi and all these people.
09:47 What are the takeaways from this tournament?
09:49 Sorry, I cannot hear you.
09:51 What are the takeaways from this tournament?
09:54 You can see the overall performance.
09:57 Babar Azam performed well. It was his first World Cup.
10:00 And the way he responded was amazing.
10:04 Shaheen Shafi performed well.
10:07 Aamir bowled well. Wahab Riaz made a good comeback.
10:10 Shahid Aap bowled well.
10:12 I think the boys performed well and it is good for Pakistan in the future.
10:17 Thank you.
10:18 [OUTRO MUSIC]