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MELBOURNE: Pakistan bounced back from losses in their two opening T20 World Cup matches to win their next four games and surge into the Final at the MCG on Sunday, and now Babar Azam expects to continue riding the wave of winning momentum that hit fresh heights with a commanding seven-wicket triumph over New Zealand in the semi-final.
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According to a report by ICC, four consecutive victories have filled Pakistan with a confidence that captain Babar Azam believes can propel them to glory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final.
“We have lost the first two matches (but) the way we came back the last two matches, we’ve performed very well,” Babar told reporters at the MCG on Saturday.
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“We are playing good cricket in the last four matches and we’ll try to continue that momentum into the Final.”
More than 90,000 fans packed the MCG the last time Pakistan played at the venue, in their opening T20 World Cup match against India, while 36,443 attended their semi-final at the SCG.
Pakistan have enjoyed similar support throughout the Super 12 stage and Babar said that the team are also drawing confidence from their many fervent fans around Australia.
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“They give us confidence and (it’s) good to see when we go anywhere, any stadium, they come and support the Pakistan team,” Babar said.
“We try 100 percent to give them a smile (and) to win the matches.”
The ICC report says while Babar is confident his team are on a path to glory on Sunday, the 28-year-old acknowledged that Pakistan will have to be wary of nullifying their opponent’s strengths in the Final.
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England will also enter the Final in stunning form after thumping India by 10 wickets in the second semi-final.
“England is a good team, they have a good bunch of players, and they have quality fast bowlers and batsmen,” Babar said.
“We’ll have to be at our best to execute our plans,” he added.