MELBOURNE: Pakistan captain Babar Azam revealed the reason behind the national team’s defeat at the hands of England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 final at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.

Babar, while speaking to the post-match ceremony, raised the batting line-up’s falter and asserted that Pakistan were 20 runs short in the first innings.

The skipper also coined Shaheen Shah Afridi’s injury as another key factor behind the team’s shortcoming in the mega final.

“First of all I would like to congratulate the England team, it almost felt time like home as everyone came here to support us,” said Babar.

“The way the team has gone in the last four matches [was] incredible. I told the boys to play their natural game, with freedom.

“We were 20 runs short [in the final] but the fight to the last over was unbelievable. Our bowling is one of the best but unfortunately, Shaheen’s injury cost us a different result, but that’s part of the game.”

Meanwhile, the winning skipper Jos Buttler was ecstatic and lauded their veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes’ heroics that guided England to their second T20 World Cup title.

“This is the icing on the cake, to win the T20 World Cup, just immensely proud. A long journey and a few changes, but we’re reaping the rewards. Fantastic tournament,” said Buttler.

“He [Stokes] is the ultimate competitor. In anything he does, a hell of a lot of experience to bank on, he timed it perfectly, the impetus he and Moeen had taken it away from Pakistan,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that England edged Pakistan by five wickets in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 at the back of Stokes’ gritty half-century.

Pakistan bowlers fought hard and took the match close but Stokes held his nerves calm to redeem his 2016 World Cup heartbreak into exciting glory.

READ: ‘Well Played’: President Alvi, PM Shehbaz back Pakistan following WC loss