Here is the full transcript of Salman Mirza’s press conference ahead of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka clash
(Reporter:)
Pakistan’s semi-final chances hanging in the balance? How to see positions in the camp? And secondly, even if they make it to the semi-finals, is there enough skill in the Pakistan team to do better in the semi-finals than this tournament?
(Salman Mirza:)
Yes, absolutely. Pakistan have enough ability to not only reach the semi-finals but also perform very well. And as you said, it’s hanging in the balance – we can’t control it now. We’re just watching our match and hopefully we’ll be successful in it.
(Reporter:)
Salman, how do you see the Sri Lankan challenge? They are already eliminated from the tournament. How do you see the Sri Lankan challenge? This is a critical game for you. A lot depends on England’s match with New Zealand today.
(Salman Mirza:)
Sir, regardless of today’s game or tomorrow’s game, we can’t control it and we will only focus on our game and try to do our best in it.
(Reporter:)
Salman, the head coach, came for a press conference a few days ago. When Shaheen got out he said you are very unlucky, you don’t get a proper chance and when you get a chance Shaheen bowls only one yorker and Brooke is out of it. So, coaches don’t make you practice death overs and yorkers?
(Salman Mirza:)
Man, they sure make you practice yorkies. It is a conditional thing. At that point, if you feel that a yorker is the best ball, you definitely go for it. But on analysis – we saw in the last 2-3 overs that the long ball was more effective, so the plan was to stick with that. But it didn’t work out – we practice for everything.
(Reporter:)
Salman, when you got the ball in the last match, you could have almost made a historic comeback for Pakistan. Such crunchy moments are very rare in life. Do you think you missed a great opportunity to become a hero?
(Salman Mirza:)
Sir, I will say that I missed the opportunity because it was such a moment that if it had been two wickets, Pakistan could have won the match. Moments like this don’t happen again and again. But what happened then is not under control. But we tried but we couldn’t win the match.
(Reporter:)
Salman, after the last match against England, our condition is very critical. What did you talk about in camp, in the dugout after a loss? Because you are a very powerful batsman and you only know your position during practice. Are you mentally prepared that if England win – have you prepared for tomorrow’s game? Will it be a do or die match?
(Salman Mirza:)
Sir we can’t control a match which is an England match. Whatever the conditions, this is our last game. It is very important for us to do well in that match and we will try our best to win that match and finish the tournament with flying colours.
(Reporter:)
Salman, this is your first ICC tournament. But there are many teams with players who have played many tournaments before. So from 2023 there is no tournament where we can make good progress or finish at a good level. So is there any disappointment or sadness in the team camp that we are not able to perform the way the fans expect or what is expected of the team?
(Salman Mirza:)
Sir, as a player you always want to do well and you always evaluate yourself whether you are doing well or not. As a player, we try to give our best for the team and we strive for that. But whether it happens or not is not in our power, sir.
(Reporter:)
The question is on a lighter note for you. As Ramzan continues, I know you don’t have many things in your hands. So which players are praying and fasting for some results to come in Pakistan’s favour?
(Salman Mirza:)
Sir, it is the month of Ramzan. Even when there are no matches, everyone fasts and prays namaz, I don’t think it has anything to do with cricket.
(Reporter:)
When the T20 World Cup started, we expected Sri Lanka to be more dependent on the spinners. And if we look at the lineup, it looked like that. Is it true that Mike Hessen has been more dependent on spinners in this T20 World Cup? And has it changed? Now we see more fast bowlers.
Second, we’ve seen that Mike Hessan favors the all-around. Did he give you any suggestions that you can become a jack of all trades in the future as well?
(Salman Mirza:)
I had no such conversation with the coach. It is obvious that spinners will have a bigger role in Sri Lankan conditions. If you look at the game at 11, there are more spinners. If you look at all the teams, there are more spinners because the conditions allow it.
(Reporter:)
When Pakistan England played a practice match, a lot of videos went viral, we saw it here too, when the curator throws the ball, there was a lot of bouncy track. So do you think if Naseem Shah was also with you that day or dropping Faheem Ashraf was a bad decision? If you had gone with three pacers, the result would have been different.
(Salman Mirza:)
If Naseem and Faheem were with me, I think there would be 4 pacers.
(Reporter:)
If Faheem hadn’t been dropped, then?
(Salman Mirza:)
Now it depends on the combination of the team and the coach and the captain. I can’t tell you about the pitch.
(Reporter:)
You dropped the ball in the field. You got the bounce.
(Salman Mirza:)
But if the spinner also bowled well – they bowled well and contained well, but the combination is made according to the given day.
(Reporter:)
Salman, there are wins and losses in the game, but there is a lot of overreaction after a loss.
It is very unfortunate that Salman Agha’s wife had to post on Instagram that me and our child are being abused personally. Like abusing fan reaction. Would you like to say something about it?
(Salman Mirza:)
Sir, absolutely. Because any such act that targets the player’s family is a very shameful thing. Because the player always wants to do good in the country. If they’re not doing well that day, that doesn’t mean you should target their families. And I don’t think that should happen at all.
