Mickey Arthur was determined to accentuate the positive as he reflected on a Pakistan campaign that could have been so different. Arthur바카라s team could still mathematically make the ICC Men바카라s Cricket World Cup semi-finals heading into their final group match with Bangladesh at Lord바카라s.
(HIGHLIGHTSÂ |Â POINTS TABLEÂ |Â SCHEDULE & RESULTS)
But their mission improbable required smashing plenty of records, piling on the runs and skittling out their rivals in double-quick time.
Their 94-run victory was a fourth consecutive win with Imam Ul Haq바카라s 100 and Babar Azam바카라s 96 setting the scene for Shaheen Afridi, whose six-wicket haul, the best bowling figures of the tournament, ensured he rightly hogged the headlines.
It was a glimpse of a promising future but for this campaign at least, the fractions have not been kind.
바카라It바카라s been a World Cup of ifs and buts, a tournament of two halves and that바카라s disappointing,바카라 said Arthur.
바카라We바카라ve ended very strongly and it바카라s nice to know we바카라ve beaten two of those semi-finalists (England and New Zealand), which shows we aren바카라t that far off as a top, top cricket team.
바카라The average age of our side is just 24, that바카라s something to be really proud about and it bodes well for the future of Pakistan cricket.
바카라Their work ethic, grit and passion has been a credit them. You don바카라t see what goes on in this dressing room, I can see their desire and their determination to improve and that means our cricket is in safe hands.
바카라Watch the highlights package of this World Cup and they바카라ll be a lot of Pakistan players on it. The guys can leave with their heads held very high.
바카라I바카라m just so passionate about this team, I want to see Pakistan get back to where they need to be.바카라
Closing the tournament with wins over Bangladesh, Afghanistan, New Zealand and South Africa, coupled with an earlier victory against England, Pakistan may consider themselves unlucky not to make the knockout stages, especially as they also pushed Australia close in a thriller in Taunton.
And Arthur knows the one thing he바카라d change.
바카라When you lose the first game the way we did against the West Indies, it바카라s really hard to get your net run rate back and that has ultimately cost us,바카라 he added.
바카라I think the nerves got the better of us that day, something that won바카라t happen again in four years with this team. We froze but I was so proud of how we bounced back and how much we바카라ve learned.바카라
The performances of Iman, Babar and Shaheen - all making their World Cup debuts 바카라 rightly underline Arthur바카라s bullish optimism.
Iman, 23, scored the youngest World Cup century by a Pakistan player, Babar, 24, scored the most runs for a Pakistan player at the tournament and no-one - not even greats like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis - boost better bowling figures than 19-year old Shaheen바카라s 6/35 at the 바카라Home of Cricket바카라.
바카라These players are the future but they need time and they need support, but they are going to be champions,바카라 said Arthur.
바카라Their performances will be up and down because that happens with young cricketers but I want to stay positive, there is no place for negativity if Pakistan cricket is to achieve its potential.바카라 (Inputs from ICC)
