Pakistan vs Afghanistan ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Pre-Match Press Conference with Imam-ul-Haq and Coach Jonathan Trott (English & Urdu)

[Reporter:] You are a young man; you are active on social media as well. You score also – but your innings – they’re not getting converted to match winning innings.  If I am not mistaken, you said that Shaheen has caught the evil eye.

Do you also have this problem or do you get overconfident when you play good innings – like last time you got 70 and then you couldn’t convert it into match winning innings?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] See, all the batting I have done in the last few days, Alhamdulillah, Pakistan has won the match mostly. If you see my match winning innings, 90% of the matches I have won are like this. When you chase a 367, you never feel like you have to slow down your momentum.

So obviously you have to take risks. Unfortunately, yes, it is true that we are not getting big innings. I will say this for sure.

So, we are trying to get a big innings as soon as possible. And we try to play the batting that we get according to the situation and do our best for Pakistan.

[Reporter:] How disappointed are you with the last two defeats? How confident are you that you will be in the semi-finals?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] We have played 4 matches and we are 2-2. We are confident. We will accept that we did not play well in the last 2 matches. We will have to perform up to the mark. It matters a lot how you play on the given day. You can talk as much as you want. But it matters how you play on the day. We have talked about it. You will see a new team tomorrow in Chennai.

[Reporter:] There are a lot of reactions in every press conference on execution. The team accepts it, the captain, or any player, that we made mistakes and we shouldn't have lost the match. But you guys know what's happening. Even Morgan said that our execution is not good. What are the factors that you think play-in on the ground mistakes and such mistakes that we are left behind in crucial matches.

[Imam-ul-Haq:] Look, in all your team meetings, we talk about execution. When we practice, they do it because our practice is so good that our execution is good. And see, this is how cricket is played. There is no guarantee in life or cricket. We can practice as tough as we can. Management has given our players a lot of confidence. So, you have to believe in that and go into the match with that confidence.

Our execution is not happening, but after that we go again and try again and then we go to the ground. This is in our hands, this is controllable. The things that are out of our control, we cannot talk much about them and neither can we do it.

See, there are no such factors - we talk after the game. We know that we left some important catches in our fielding. We practice, we field and we depend on the individual. Same goes with batting and bowling. And then it depends on the individual, how they are thinking and what they are doing.

[Reporter:] It will be difficult because we lost two matches by a large margin. Right now, we are not in the top 4 on the points table. So, it will be so challenging to have two defeats back to -back  big margin defeats and then coming back and playing on such a condition where competitively your opponents can also get support due to the spin available in the conditions [pitch] like we have here.

And along with that, tell us that your 60s and 70s – you are not able to convert it to three figure numbers – how do you think you can improve this?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] Yes of course when you have two back-to-back defeats your morale is definitely down, but that is life and that is cricket. Ups and downs are a part of life and cricket.

We always have a feeling of positivity in our camp, and we have backed everyone. Our players know that we have the ability to win the match on the day.

So now we just talk about tomorrow’s match, that we will win it and so that when we go from here our points will be 4-2 [if we win both matches in Chennai].

I have also spoken to my coaches about this – that since a long time my score is stuck at 70 – 80 since 6,7,8 matches. I spoke to my batting coach too, so hopefully this time I'm working on it and I will reach 3 figures.

[Reporter:] Pakistan has very fond memories of playing in Chennai, Saeed Anwar 194 and then 1999 Test over here. Growing up, what were your memories of those Test matches, especially 1999?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] To be honest, I have no memories because I don't remember, but the thing is, it's a great venue to be part of and really excited. And coming here to Chennai and…you just mentioned Saeed Anwar’s 194. It's a great thing that we came here and we are playing against Afghanistan. So really excited and looking forward to it

[Reporter:] Okay you have won the first 3 matches, but after your performance in the Asia Cup – we had the best bowling line up of the world. But overall, what has happened to Pakistan’s bowling? Okay, in the home series against Australia you chased a score of 350 twice in a week – but right now what is the problem with our bowling?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] See if you see here all matches are very high scoring. It is not that it is only against our team. If you look at the other teams also, they are scoring 350 – 360, like yesterday there was a score of 400 – so it’s not that only our bowlers are being beaten.

The grounds here are small, the wickets are good, and when the batsmen are set, the margin for the bowlers is very low.

This is not an excuse, but the conditions are such. And it's true that sometimes, there are ups and downs for the bowlers but Shaheen, like in the last match, I thought they would score 420 or 430, but our spinners and end bowlers performed very well and controlled them at 360. So, in patches our bowlers have done very well, Shaheen also done very well. So, these are a few positives and during the day you only look at the positives, we try to ignore the negatives because it is very important – we have back-to-back matches in this tournament. On the day we are bowling well – we have to back this.

I personally don't feel that this is not happening or that is not happening. Yes, on the day, often bad days come and I think we should back it

[Reporter:] My question is from the bowling perspective. As far as the pacers are concerned, they have fired but we cannot say the same for the Pakistani spinners. Now, considering this tournament, as far as the venues are concerned this has been considered the most spin friendly track in the tournament. So, regarding your preparations for the upcoming game against Afghanistan or for the following game against South Africa Is there a chance that the preparations would be more spin focused?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] It's just that I don't believe that now we have a chance to do any kind of more practice. It's just we are on the tournament and it's just about the top up. We don't have that much time. We have already done all the preparations and we have played against Afghanistan in Hambantota where we won 3-0 and they were also spin conditions batting and spin conditions venue, but the thing is it's just that -Yes this is a spin venue ground and we know that and the guys individually really depends how they practice and it's just that every individual has their own preparations and we really back, them we really back their ability and it's just that's how it is.

[Reporter:] Right from 1979 when Asif Iqbal led the Pakistan team to Chennai, the teams’ over there have done very well in Chennai, they have won a lot of matches in Chennai. And even the crowd has supported Pakistan. Do you draw, does this team draw inspiration from that?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] Obviously, when we came to Hyderabad, we all were getting, we get very good support. And as you mentioned, Chennai is a good venue for Pakistan in the history and we got good support and it's obviously it's inspiration for us and it's a great motivation and it's just - on the day really depends how you play cricket and we know that Afghanistan is a good side and especially in these conditions they can take you down but it's just we have the ability and we have done good things about against Afghanistan in the World Cup, in all those games. So, we're really backing our ability.

[Reporter:] Imam, we have seen that in the last two or three matches, we don't see any intent in our power plays that our score is very low as compared to the other teams. So aren't we doing something like - we don't attack. If we compare the other team, they create a lot of pressure in 15-20 overs.

So what work is being done on this? Are we working on this? And secondly, since this is a spin-friendly track, can three spinners play here?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] I will answer the second question first. I think it is a matter of the captain and coach how many spinners they take. I have no right in this.

And the first question - is that every team has its own way. Yes, we definitely talk about this. And as Ejaz [reporter] said- in 2 days we chased 350 in two – that is our pattern -  many times earlier also we have chased a solid score, 350 or 360, we have chased many times before. Yesterday I was reading the record that we are second in chasing 350.

So obviously if we are doing something good, we chase 350.

So, to doubt on how we used to play before and how we playing now -  every team has its own pattern on how to chase, we aim to build a foundation. It depends on whether you are chasing 350 or not. If we played 6-7 matches in the last, we chased 350 in 2 matches.

Just 2 matches back we chased 350 and in 10 overs we were 49/2. So, this is very important for you to see.

[Reporter:] Pakistan have had a 100% success rate in Chennai [ODIs]. After two match losses you are going to play in Chennai. What is the strategy? Is there any changes in playing eleven?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] It's just that I'm not the captain. Babar will decide if there's going to be any change. But the thing is, as you mentioned, that we have a very good record in Chennai. It's just that it will give us more motivation. And it's just that, yes, we lost two matches. But as a team, this is how it is. We are professional cricketers. And we know that, you know, Pakistan is a team, who always comes back and we have the ability. We know that it's just a giving on the day how you perform and we are really looking forward to it for tomorrow.

[Reporter:] There's a lot of talk about the top order not hitting sixes. What is it? What is the secret behind hitting sixes at this level? And what's the process? Is that a mindset which you have to unlock? What is it?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] Maybe we want to eat more proteins and not that much carbs, but it's just that there's nothing we want to talk about it. It's just we really don't feel it if we are not hitting six or not four, it's just that what are we doing for the team? And if we are winning matches - unfortunately last two matches we didn't play well and we accept it, but it's just that we have still five matches then we will go to semi-final but it's just that how you play how you prepare and that's really matters.

[Reporter:] Chennai round will decide whether you stay in the competition or not. So, what how much is the pressure on the team and are the batters feeling an extra pressure because every day you are almost like obligated to score 350? Is that an extra sense of pressure for the batsmen in the team?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] Look, yes, you really raise the point that these two matches will probably decide. But the thing is, it's a team game. It's not a batter's or it's a bowler's team. It's just that whatever - when we came to the dressing room, we know that if you're chasing 350 or 250, it's a team game, you know, and we really back our bowlers and it's not a pressure to be honest, we don't feel any kind of pressure. Yes, there will be some time when we lost two matches and the same there is a positivity in dugout and we are very looking forward to tomorrow's two match and when we will go to Kolkata, we will be four – two [if Pakistan wins both matches in Chennai].

[Reporter:] Looking at all the matches, especially the last two, it began well but then the batting collapsed and the percentage of dot ball has increased.

In this situation, especially the spinners of Afghanistan have grabbed the match in the middle overs. So, that is a weak point and there is a dot ball percentage as well.

So, how are you looking at that?

You have faced the Afghanistan’s spinners previously. So, will there be any change in plan when you face them in these conditions?

[Imam-ul-Haq:] You are absolutely right. Our start was very good in the last two matches. Our run rate was good in the first 20 to 25 overs. And we suddenly collapsed.

We talked about that. It's just that this is the time to back players. We discussed what we can change and what we can improve.

Of course, there are good spinners in Afghanistan who can bowl well in the middle overs. But as I mentioned, we had beaten them in Hambantota 3-0. Even there, the conditions were very spin friendly. So, we will back that and our ability.

In the end you have to play the ball. You don't have to play the bowler. So, it's just that you have to back your ability.

[Reporter:] So going back to the England game, we saw your spinners, Rashid and Mujeeb, making quite an impact.

The spinners made quite an impact in that game and now you're in Chennai where the track is considered a spinners den. Also, you have been here and practicing for nearly a week now. So how confident are you that your spinners can pull off another upset against the Pakistan?

[Jonathan Trott:] The thing is - with spinners, there are only two or three of them playing a game. And it's the other eight as well that have to play the game so that's important. So, it's everybody's job it's not just the spinners job to win games. There's batsmen who've got to put runs on the board or batsmen who've got to chase down a total. So yes, the spinners are important and getting our selection is key for the fixture but it's a team effort. There's no reliance on just spinners. There's seam bowlers as well who've got to bowl well and bowl well in whatever conditions we're confronted with.

[Reporter:] How is a wicket like, there will be spinners for both sides? And you see most of the teams have been talking about sorting out Rashid Khan. I mean, you know, the last few matches he got only one wicket. So how is it like, you know, mental mindset for this game?

[Jonathan Trott:] Sorry, you've asked a few questions here. Let me answer the first one. The pitch obviously, I'm not sure. Chennai is normally a good wicket. So, with regards to the mindset, it's important, as I said, the mindset we have there is that it's a team game. It's not just a spinners game they play. There's seamers and there's fielders as well. So, everybody's got to put in a good team performance if we want to beat the likes of a strong side like Pakistan. But we've had an ODI series against them recently where we should have won a few games. We didn't. So hopefully we can put that right tomorrow night.

[Reporter:] You spoke about playing a recent series against Pakistan. And Azmat has also played a bit of PSL. So, I believe he's played with Peshawar under Babar’s captaincy so how much of that intel would sort of help you into this game?

[Jonathan Trott:] It's not just the people who you have played with - it's a whole team's responsibility every time we play against an opposition to have a look and see what areas they are or how are we going to get them out in the future, if we face bowlers you know how we're going to be able to score runs against him or play against him in the future. It's not just one player, perhaps he's got a bit of inside info, he's practiced with them or sort of spent a bit of time off the field. I think it's the responsibility of everyone and us as coaches as well to come up with plans to execute tomorrow night.

[Reporter:] do you think this is a must-win game for Afghanistan, the fifth match having lost three out of four?

[Jonathan Trott:] Every game is a must-win game. This is a World Cup and every game is important. So, I don't see the other matches just as more important as this. There's a bit of rivalry as well with this game. So, I guarantee you, my side is very, very excited and looking forward to hopefully pulling away a win.

[Reporter:] Before this World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board requested ICC to shift the venue of Pakistan-Afghanistan match. Do you think this is weak link for Pakistan that they are fear about spin bowling of Afghanistan?

[Jonathan Trott:] I didn't know about that but, as in I didn't know about them wanting to, I'm not sure about changing the venue, I have no idea about that, but I think, you know, Pakistan have got good spinners themselves. So, I don't, again, it's not a case of the spinners for me. It's a case of everyone doing their job. You know, when the ball's in the air, catching it. When the ball's on the ground, fielding it. And when you're batting, when you've got your bat in your hand, making sure that you're representing the side well and doing what the team needs you to do. And that's it at that situation.

[Reporter:] Last match, Azmat took two wickets in one over but coming to Pakistan and Afghanistan both the teams have lost, Pakistan lost two and Afghanistan lost one in last two matches. Both will be trying to get points. So, it is a big challenge, do you think? And what you have learned from the failures of last match, the fielding, seven catches dropped, batting collapsed. So, you must have come with a new plan for this match.

Azmat took two wickets in one over. So, people were thinking that spin will be shining in this match. But the fast bowler were good too.

[Jonathan Trott:]That's what I'm saying. So, it's not just about the spinners. Everyone's got a bowl well. Yeah, and obviously dropped catches don't help, especially when you win the toss and bowl first, you want to put the opposition under pressure. We had an opportunity to do that with New Zealand, and we had them, I think it was about 115 for four as well at one stage. You know, we let them get away. So, obviously the things you'd like to do differently, there's things you could do better, and we'll be looking tomorrow to do that.

[Reporter:] You spoke about the rivalry between that exists between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Like, you've been with Afghanistan for a while. Could you just talk to the players, what does it feel like for this rivalry? Like, could you just explain in words, like, what does it mean for Afghanistan players about this new age rivalry?

[Jonathan Trott:] I think for them it's a rivalry that excites them. I think it's a rivalry that sometimes in the past has been very passionate. We've seen Asia Cup clashes and matches that have been very exciting. No closer than the T20 Asia Cup last year where it went down with Pakistan won by one wicket.

So, we've had very close games as well. So, they've been very good, very interesting and exciting games. Hopefully tomorrow isn't very exciting and we win by a lot. But I'm sure we'll see an exciting game tomorrow. It's just the nature of the rivalry, I should say. And both teams, I think, respect each other, but are very desperate to win. So, I'm looking forward to it.

[Reporter:] The two games where you were batting first, is there a sense of freedom when you are setting a target rather than chasing? And considering the quality of bowling attack, not only the spinners, even the paces have been fairly good. So, would you prefer to put a total, irrespective dew and things out of the equation and just focus on putting a runs on board and just use age old one day cricket, going back to the 90s, 2000s, put runs on board and then restrict the opposition on a pitch where it could become slow and your spinners are probably the best in the world.

[Jonathan Trott:] Yeah, I think it's a valid point, I think. As you've seen throughout the World Cup, you know winning the toss doesn't necessarily mean that you've got an advantage in the game. So, it's about making sure whatever you do first, you put the opposition under pressure whatever you do first. So, if you're bowling first, you make sure you take your catches and you bowl accurately and you restrict them to a total you can chase. Irrespective of the pitch or the dew factors that come in.

So, we've got to play cricket well from the start. It's nothing to do with batting or bowling first. We've got to be better at the start. We saw against England we were good at the start and we managed to get a victory. Against New Zealand, we weren't that great and we put ourselves under pressure. So tomorrow, hopefully that turns around again.

[Reporter:] Pakistan is coming to this match with two back-to-back defeats and both the defeats were for heaviest margins. So, do you think Afghanistan can exploit this situation for Pakistan and you know come harsh against them in this match?

[Jonathan Trott:] We always look to put up put the opposition under pressure straight away so we'll be looking to do that tomorrow obviously. So, I don't think there's any thoughts with regards to their previous matches. I think when Afghanistan plays Pakistan, I think there's you know that a lot of form doesn't come into the game. There's a lot of other things that come into the game with regards to the rivalry and the history of and the passion of everything. So, we know the Pakistan team will be very determined to win tomorrow and certainly want to sort of snap that losing streak of the two games that you just mentioned.

But again, we want to win just as much as they do, so that should be good.