Consoled by teammate Shaheen Shah Afridi, the 21-year-old’s distress underscored the high stakes and intense emotions of the match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
T20 World Cup Schedule | Points Table
Naseem showcased immense resilience during the final over of Pakistan’s chase, needing 18 runs against India’s Arshdeep Singh. Despite his valiant efforts, including a skillful scoop shot over the keeper and a boundary at deep backward point, Pakistan fell short of the 120-run target, marking their seventh defeat to India in T20 World Cup history, including a bowl-out.
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Earlier in the game, Naseem led Pakistan’s bowling attack with a stellar performance, capitalizing on the challenging conditions in New York. He struck early, removing Indian star Virat Kohli cheaply in his opening over, followed by dismissing Axar Patel and Shivam Dube.
Naseem’s impressive figures of 4-0-21-3 highlighted his talent and potential, even as his team faced a potential early exit from the 2024 edition of the tournament.
The young pacer’s tears reflected the heartbreak of a narrow defeat and the high expectations placed on him. His performance, however, earned praise and demonstrated his promising future in international cricket.
The match, which saw India post a modest total of 119, was marked by Jasprit Bumrah‘s three-wicket haul and Rishabh Pant‘s crucial knock. Bumrah’s strategic bowling and Pant’s counter-attacking innings played pivotal roles in India’s victory.