Naseem Shah opens up on his T20 World Cup 2024 heartbreak

After a disappointing start to the T20 World Cup, Pakistan's hopes of advancing to the Super Eights were significantly damaged by losses to both the United States and their arch-rivals, India. The defeat to India was particularly crushing, nearly extinguishing Pakistan's chances of progression in the tournament. The emotional weight of the situation was evident when ace pacer Naseem Shah was seen crying on the field, with his teammate Shaheen Shah Afridi providing comfort and consolation. Despite the setback against India, there remained a slim chance for Pakistan to qualify for the next stage, but fortune did not favor them, leading to profound disappointment for the team and its supporters. Reflecting on the experience ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, Naseem Shah opened up about the impact of the World Cup exit.

He admitted that he struggles with losses and the early exit from the tournament deeply affected him. Naseem also revealed that the defeat left him unable to provide satisfactory explanations to those around him, including people at a restaurant and his own family, who sought answers for the team’s poor performance. The emotional aftermath of the World Cup has been a tough experience for Naseem Shah, and he continues to grapple with the impact of the tournament’s outcome as he prepares for the upcoming Test series.

“Though I was not being targeted by the fans or the media, one cannot be satisfied and say I did my bit after your team loses. I am a person who wants to win. I get disappointed even when I lose while playing at home or in my street. I play to win and the World Cup exit pained me a lot,” Pakistani speedster Naseem Shah said in a recent interview. 

“People come up to me in restaurants and ask me why we lost. Even my relatives have asked about it. I understand their sentiments are driven by social media and, as a player, all I can do is listen to them,” he added.

Naseem Shah also shared that there was significant frustration among the players, which intensified with the mounting criticism from fans. The weight of the public scrutiny added to their disappointment and made the situation even more challenging. Despite the negativity, the 21-year-old cricketer recognized that this frustration and criticism served as a powerful motivator for the team.

Acknowledging the despair that followed their early exit from the T20 World Cup, Naseem expressed that the experience, while difficult, ultimately fueled the players’ determination to make a stronger comeback. The setbacks and harsh feedback were catalysts for the team’s resolve to improve and demonstrate their capabilities in future matches. This period of adversity, according to Naseem, has been instrumental in galvanizing the team to focus on their preparation and performance, aiming to bounce back with renewed strength and resilience. As they look ahead to the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, the players are channeling their frustrations into a commitment to perform better and regain their form.

“There are times when you feel that you cannot put up with it anymore. But, it also burns a desire for a comeback. People had many questions to ask and there was a lot of frustration in them, which is understandable. Now, we have an opportunity to win the hearts again by playing good cricket," the fast bowler concluded on the matter,” Naseem concluded.