Senior Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik on Sunday has atated Pakistan are the “form team so we need to plan well” for the T20 World Cup semi-final and admitted that the match aginst formidable Australia will give him “butterflies”.
Pakistan finished the Super 12 stage with five wins in as many games with a solid 72-run win over qualifiers Scotland in Sharjah.
Shoaib cracked a quickfire 18-ball 54 not out — the fastest half century of the tournament — as Pakistan scored 189-2 in 20 overs before keeping Scotland down to 117-6.
“Of course, we are watching Australia play good cricket and so are we, so it will be a tough match for both teams,” stated Shoaib .
“It will be a tough challenge for both teams and will give us butterflies but that is always encouraging.”
Shoaib, who has played in all seven versions of the T20 World Cup, will play Thursday´s semi-final as “just another game”.
“We will take the semi-final as just another game and I think if we do that then we will be able to plan things in a better way,” he said.
“We will have a good rest, we are the form team so we need to plan well for the semi-final and this rest will surely help in doing that,” added Shoaib.
“I am enjoying cricket and keeping fit, always love to come to the ground and do my best for my country and today´s innings was like that, highly enjoyable and it helped the team.”
“I was playing the Caribbean Premier League when the initial squad was announced and when my name was not there, it hurt but I had a way to get my frustration out as I was playing.
“Then I came back to Pakistan and did well in the National Twenty20 and luckily got selected, so I am happy that I am here and enjoying my time.”
