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Imad Wasim, the Pakistan all-rounder, expressed that the national team has taken a step backward in T20 cricket.Babar Azam’s Pakistan team is set to face Ireland in their next T20 World Cup 2024 fixture at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Florida this Sunday. Disappointingly, the Men in Green have already been eliminated from contention for the Super Eights in the current prestigious tournament.

During the pre-match press conference, Wasim acknowledged the necessity for a shift in mindset among Pakistani cricketers across all three aspects of the game. He emphasized that significant achievements can be attained through a transformation in players’ mindsets.

“We compete with the world’s best teams. Their mindset has changed over time. We used to rule in T20 cricket. I think we have moved back a little now. Maybe our mindset [needs a change] – in all three areas. I won’t say any one area. If you change the mind of the player, you can achieve things beyond your limits. I always believe in this. You can talk a lot, but it is what it is – today, we are out of the tournament and whatever happens in the next World Cup, whoever plays, however they play, I think if we go with the right approach, the results will be better for us,” Wasim was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying.

The 35-year-old added the Men in Green haven’t tried in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

“The problem is our team is so good, our players are so good, that we are good enough to play any kind of cricket. We haven’t tried that but the thing is you have to try that, you have to get rid of the fear of failure. In everything – batting, bowling, fielding, you have to get rid of fear of failure. Personnel change doesn’t change anything, just changing the mindset can change a lot of things. The same ball can be hit for a six, a four, a single, and that same ball can take a wicket and be a dot ball,” he added.

In the Group A standings of the prestigious tournament, Pakistan currently occupies the fourth position with two points, having won just one out of their three group-stage matches. They are entering their upcoming match against Canada following a convincing seven-wicket victory.

Here is the Pakistan squad for the tournament: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Abbas Afridi…