(AP Photo)
Monank Patel, the captain of the United States team, is confident that their historic T20 World Cup triumph over Pakistan will create “many doors” for them. However, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining composure and concentrating on the upcoming challenge against India. Despite their remarkable Super Over victory over Pakistan, the co-hosts face another formidable adversary in India on June 12.
“I am happy with the win, playing against Pakistan for the first time in the World Cup and beating them was an unbelievable performance. Our focus would be on playing against India now,” Patel said in the post-match press meet.
“But we don’t want to keep our emotion too high or low. We’ll make sure that we’ll enjoy it (the win) and make sure that next day we come fresh,” he added.
Patel, who contributed a crucial half-century, emphasized that the win against the Asian giants would have significant implications for cricket in the USA.
“Beating Pakistan in World Cup is going to open many doors for us. The World Cup itself (hosting) is a big achievement, and then performing here as a team, it helps us to grow the cricket in USA.
“I would say it’s a big day for Team USA and I would say not just for USA, for the USA cricket community too,” said Patel.
However, they remain grounded, refraining from contemplating a Super Eight entry, despite leading Group A with four points from victories over Canada and Pakistan.
“We are not worried about what people are saying (that their wins are fluke). We know what we have worked and what capability we have. We don’t even want to think about the Ireland (match) right now. So, Super 8 is far ahead. We just focus on the particular game,” he explained.
But for now, Patel said the team members are in a celebratory mood after their surprising victory.
“Obviously, everyone is happy, enjoying with their teammates and their family and friends,” he added.
Monank also believes that the USA team had the capability to successfully chase down the target of 160 within the regular overs.
“When I got out, we were still in the game and I thought we should have finished the game and we should have never gone to Super Over. But the way we kept our nerves and in the Super Over particularly, scoring 18 runs itself gave us a big upper hand to defend the target,” he said.
