PAKISTAN Team Director Mohammad Hafeez stated that Pakistan were the better of the two teams after the loss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Boxing Day Test match against Australia.

Pakistan were ahead at several points in the Test match in Melbourne, but the hosts kept pulling themselves back into the contest led by their skipper Pat Cummins, who finished an incredible 2023 with a 10-wicket haul.
“We played better cricket as a team,” Hafeez said after the game.

“I’m proud of that. The way the team had the courage to attack this game in the best possible way. If I sum up the game, the Pakistan team played better than the other team in general.

“Our batting intent was better, and while bowling, we were hitting the right areas. Yes, we made some mistakes that cost us the game but as a team I believe that there were a lot of positives, enough to win the game but unfortunately at the end we didn’t win the game.”

Cummins, meanwhile, was happy to concede that the visitors played well, but was glad that the Aussies came out on top to ensure a series victory and grab crucial ICC World Test Championship points.

“They played well. I am glad we got the win,” Cummins said, adding that it is the “team who wins at the end” that matters.
“As a team, it was just a huge year in all formats. We had a lot of success and to top it off by winning a series at home, which we pride ourselves on doing, is pretty satisfying,” the Australian skipper said, stating that he was also very happy with his own bowling.

“Personally, I think I’m really happy for a few reasons. Probably the one main reason is it is the best that I felt like I have bowled for a little while,” Cummins said.
World Cup winning captain Pat Cummins sits down with ICC Digital Insider Crystal Arnold to dissect the successful campaign in India.

“My rhythm felt really good. I felt like I had good pace. I knew where my wrist was. I could control the seam. I bowled some good bounces. So I felt really happy with how I was bowling.”
Hafeez, on the other hand, admitted that Pakistan made costly errors that eventually cost them the game despite putting up a strong fight.

“This game, we were very close but we couldn’t win. We made some mistakes, conceding 52 extras which really hurt us,” Hafeez said.
“And then crumbling from 124 for 1 to lose five main batters, that was a crucial moment we couldn’t win in the game. And then Australia were 16 for 4, we dropped a couple of catches that should have been taken. (ICC Media)