Shadab Khan insists Pakistan 'not a champion team' despite reaching Asia Cup 2022 final

Vice-captain Shadab Khan says that Pakistan are “good but not a champion team” despite sealing their place in Sunday's Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan were reliant on tail-ender Naseem Shah's two sixes at the death to secure a nerve-shredding one-wicket win in Sharjah on Wednesday.

Chasing 130 for victory, Pakistan were in desperate trouble after slipping to 118-9 before Naseem's big-hitting sealed victory with four balls to spare

“I think a good team should not suffer a collapse like this in pressure situations, especially I played a rash shot. I was well set and should have finished the match,” said Shadab, who was Pakistan's top scorer with 36 off 26 balls, an innings that included a four and three sixes.

“Like I said at the start of the tournament, we are a good team but not a champion team and that's what is our goal. Hopefully we will work on this and try not to repeat our mistakes.”

Shadab, who also returned figures of 1-27 with his leg-spin and was named man of the match, was grateful that teenager Naseem stood up when his team needed him.

“Our management has promoted our bowlers to bat a bit because you don't know what situation will come in a game. Our bowlers also have the calibre to finish games with the bat,” he said.

Naseem, 19, added: “When I came in to bat, I had the belief I could hit sixes. I practise this. I knew they would bowl yorkers. I just tried and I executed.”

The result knocked Afghanistan and pre-tournament favourites India out of the tournament. They play each other in a dead-rubber on Thursday in Dubai.

India, who won the previous Asia Cup in 2018 played in a 50-over format, lost their first two Super 4 matches to Pakistan by five wickets and Sri Lanka by six.

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