Pakistan captain Babar Azam disappointed with DRS call

Pakistan captain Babar Azam was disappointed with the DRS call that went against his team in their one-wicket loss to South Africa in a World Cup match on Friday.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his disappointment over a DRS call that went against his team in their heartbreaking one-wicket loss to South Africa in a World Cup match on Friday. The incident occurred in the 46th over when a Haris Rauf delivery, bowled wide off the crease, struck Keshav Maharaj on the pads. Pakistan went for the DRS call after the on-field umpire ruled it not out.

Babar Azam: "It's part of the game"

Ball tracking showed that the ball would have kissed the leg stump, but Maharaj survived the DRS appeal, courtesy of Umpires Call, leaving the entire Pakistan unit distraught. "It's part of the game. This is the umpire's call, so I think it's just part of the game. Had he given it out, it would have favored us," Babar said during the post-match presentation when asked about the DRS call.

Pakistan almost out of the tournament

With Pakistan almost out of the tournament, Babar seemed drained with the opportunity lost. "I think it's disappointing everyone; we had the opportunity to win this match and stay in the tournament, but we missed it. We will try our best in our next three matches and put our effort, so let's see where we stand after the three matches." Babar blamed his batters for falling 20 runs short of what could have been a winning score on the Chepauk track.

Babar Azam: "We were 10-15 runs short"

"Very disappointing, we fought back well but we were 10-15 runs short. I think the way fast bowlers bowled, they did well but unfortunately the result was not on our side."

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma didn't mince words while pointing out that they need to address the issue of losing close games and was glad that they could win a tight contest. "Pressure with us chasing, we haven't done well to rectify that. It will be easier to have those conversations, especially after the win. You need to have the guys in the best situations and truly speak out as to what they were thinking.

Bavuma: "We need to be a lot more clinical with the bat"

Hard to say now, but those conversations will happen. It is something we have spoken and something that has been thrown about. We have a blueprint when we bat first; we can't say with conviction we have that when we are cashing. We want to be a lot more clinical with the bat."

Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi

Giving an update on their premier bowler Kagiso Rabada, Bavuma said: "KG Rabada is good. It was more precautionary. He is experiencing lower back issues and a couple of days' rest before New Zealand, and he will be in contention." He also praised Tabraiz Shamsi, who was adjudged the Player of the Match award for his four-wicket haul.

Bavuma: "Ecstatic for Shamsi"

"Ecstatic for Shamsi. Started with the ball, came in when conditions were helpful and then with the bat. We have seen Shamsi gloating on social media about his batting. It won't stop for the next two weeks, but it's nice for a senior guy like Shamsi to come out with the bat like that."