DUBAI: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam on Thursday described Hasan Ali as “a fighter” who will bounce back from dropping a catch off Matthew Wade in a key moment of the semi-final which Australia won by five wickets on Thursday.

Having conceded 44 runs in four wicket-less overs, Hasan had more disappointment to face in the dramatic closing stages of the see-saw match at the Dubai International Stadium.

With Australia needing 22 runs off the last two overs, Wade took a wild swing at Shaheen Afridi’s third ball and sent a skier towards Hasan who spilled the catch on the leg-side.

Wade responded by hitting three sixes in a row to complete an excellent chase against the tournament’s form side.

“I don’t feel like that,” Babar said on the defeat being blamed on Hasan’s dropped catch. “If the catch was taken then the scenario would have been different but it is part of the game.

“He is my main bowler and he has won many matches for Pakistan. Players drop catches but he is a fighter and I will back him.

“Everybody doesn’t perform everyday. There is a day when one performs, it was just not his day. He is down and we will lift his mood. People will talk but we keep playing.”

Hasan was trolled on social media as fans blamed the spilled chance for their World Cup miss after coming into the semi-final unbeaten and favourites.

“Best ever team performance from Pakistan cricket team in world cup has just been undone by Hasan Ali alone,” said a Twitter user.

Babar felt 176-4 after being put into bat was a decent score by the 2009 champions.

“It was a disappointing day,” Babar, who made 39 to lead the tournament’s batting chart with 303 runs, said. “We started off well with a good total but unfortunately the finish wasn’t good.”

Babar said his team will learn and move forward.

“The way we played the tournament and the way the boys fought, I keep the belief that we will continue with this,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2021