'It was just not his day': Babar Azam backs Hasan Ali after costly blunder in semi-final
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Pakistan captain Babar Azam offered consolation to teammate Hasan Ali whose costly mistake in the field allowed Matthew Wade to secure Australia's thrilling victory in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday.
Having conceded 44 runs in four wicketless 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 Shah 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.
“If the catch was taken then the scenario would have been different but it is part of the game,” Babar told reporters.
“He is one of my main bowlers 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 every day. There is a day when one performs. It was just not his day. He is down and we will lift his mood.”
Babar felt 176-4 after being put into bat was a decent score by the 2009 champions.
“We started off well with a good total but unfortunately the finish wasn't good,” Babar said.
“The way we played the tournament and boys fought, I keep the belief that we will continue with this.”
A team doctor revealed opening batter Mohammad Rizwan, who top-scored for Pakistan with 67, had spent two days in hospital following a chest infection before being declared fit for the semi-final.
“The way he (Rizwan) played today he showed that he's a team man,” Babar said. “I am very confident about his attitude and his performance.”
Vice-captain Shadab Khan also voiced support for Hasan, calling him a champion and urging fans not to resort to "personal attacks" against him in an Instagram post hashtagged #WeStandWithHasanAli.
"To all the fans, everyone goes through tough times, we are all human beings capable of errors. Remember the joy Hasan has given you, don’t do personal attacks please. He is Pakistan’s match-winner," Khan wrote.
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Comments (101) Closed
Nov 12, 2021 12:25pm
Feel sorry for poor Hasan Ali, he is suffering atrocious trolling for dropping the catch. Rizwan should resend his tweet he sent for Shammi, “respect your heros”!
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Nov 12, 2021 12:26pm
Mistakes do happen and are part of the game. They also happen on the other side. There were even umpiring mistakes both ways. But, still the end result counts.
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Nov 12, 2021 12:31pm
We really love you green shirts, the entire team performed well throughout the tournament but some shortcomings were there that needs to be improved.
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Nov 12, 2021 12:33pm
We are zeros not heroes, we lost
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Nov 12, 2021 12:35pm
No regret, this is a part of game.
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Nov 12, 2021 12:43pm
Everyone has bad days. Team fought till the end and that is what matters.
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Nov 12, 2021 12:46pm
A true leadership of Baber Azam
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Nov 12, 2021 12:48pm
don't blame anyone it is a team effort, it's a part of game for mistake, don't underline.
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Nov 12, 2021 12:55pm
He is out of form but still selected…. It’s too late for this… move on
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Nov 12, 2021 12:58pm
How much money did Pakistan take to throw the match?
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Nov 12, 2021 12:59pm
Pakistan won games by fluke but was exposed when it mattered most
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Nov 12, 2021 01:04pm
Don't' forget. Shaheen also conceded three sixes.
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Nov 12, 2021 01:13pm
His mind has been occupied filming videos.
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Nov 12, 2021 01:14pm
Nepotism and favouritism has cost this tournament to Pakistan. Hasan Ali keeps getting unlimited chances just because he is being back by the captain despite dismal performance. You didn’t win against world class teams like this.
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Nov 12, 2021 01:15pm
It's just a game at the end. Can happen with anyone. It's now a past and focus should be on future team building
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Nov 12, 2021 01:17pm
Remember catches win the matches!
Hassan Ali played his part in this crucial match!
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Nov 12, 2021 01:37pm
I demand Afridi show how he got 3 sixes hit.
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Nov 12, 2021 01:39pm
Shoaib Malik and Asif if contributed 15 runs each situation would have been different,Hasan ali not to be blamed.
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Nov 12, 2021 01:40pm
Why his eyes are closed?
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Nov 12, 2021 01:42pm
"Respect your heroes"
...Md Shami
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Nov 12, 2021 01:43pm
Yeah blame everything on him..poor guy..Well played Pakistan
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Nov 12, 2021 01:45pm
Guys you gave your best and that's what counts.
Rest is part and parcel of the game.
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Nov 12, 2021 01:46pm
I fully back hassan. He is not to blame.
Wasn't it the fault of babar to send shaheen in last overs?
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Nov 12, 2021 01:49pm
Mistakes do happen in sports.
What makes me happy to see that Green shirts played very well in whole wcup and what makes me more happy is we reach semis by ditching India!
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Nov 12, 2021 01:52pm
Great game boys. You have already made us hopeful for future successes. All the best!
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Nov 12, 2021 01:52pm
Didn't they learn about Hasan Ali from the First 4 Matches?
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Nov 12, 2021 01:53pm
That’s ok. Hasan Ali is just a human and human do mistakes.
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Nov 12, 2021 02:02pm
This was just a game.
Forget it and move on
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Nov 12, 2021 02:03pm
Hassan Ali is not a villain, what about 3 sixes in Shaheen Shah Afridi's over ?
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Nov 12, 2021 02:07pm
According to Pakistani Cricket Fan logic, Catch drop by Afghani player means fixing and catch dropped by Pakistani player means mistake,
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Nov 12, 2021 02:11pm
Winning / losing is part of every game. However, the way the Pakistani team behaved overall and the attitude they did put forward, specially the two openers, have already win hearts of millions of cricket fans.
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Nov 12, 2021 02:24pm
@Fastrack, You overestimate your team. AUS was def superior
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Nov 12, 2021 02:24pm
The effort counts more. Thanks for ruthlessly defeating Indians the most over hyped team in the current era
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Nov 12, 2021 02:32pm
End of the day what matters is that Pakistan lost!
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Nov 12, 2021 02:37pm
Still thinking that cricket / cricketer will lead you to salvation !
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Nov 12, 2021 02:44pm
He did not perform in the entier series, stop defending him, he was the weakest link in the bowling attack
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Nov 12, 2021 02:45pm
So, was this match fixed?
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Nov 12, 2021 02:50pm
You were way too arrogant, now enjoy the fall.
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Nov 12, 2021 02:50pm
@Zak, Oh yeah, now its just a game for you?
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Nov 12, 2021 03:00pm
@Fastrack , he is facing what he earned.
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Nov 12, 2021 03:01pm
Both players from Punjab, Mr,. Hasan Ali and Mr. Imad Waseem played the key role in the defeat of Pakistan.
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Nov 12, 2021 03:02pm
@Sindhi, had the catch taken then no sixes also.
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Nov 12, 2021 03:36pm
wonder what sheikh rashid has to say?
whose loss was it?
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Nov 12, 2021 03:51pm
Goldilocks needs a haircut which get in his eyes.
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Nov 12, 2021 04:13pm
Australia also dropped 2 crucial catches besides, Warner was given out incorrectly. Australia was always going to win.
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Nov 12, 2021 04:16pm
@Faisal , true.
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Nov 12, 2021 04:31pm
Aussies played better when it was needed most.
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Nov 12, 2021 04:33pm
The way Pakistani players have played their matches throughout the tournament particularly against our country have made a place in my heart .they are best fighters.
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Nov 12, 2021 04:35pm
My respect for Pakistani players. Always wish for their all round prosperity.
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Nov 12, 2021 04:39pm
It wasn't his tournament, he had the worst figures and was beaten up badly in each important match plus a dropped catch the the most crucial stage, its everyone's right to ask questions
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Nov 12, 2021 04:39pm
Mistakes happen when Hasan Ali was trying to take a catch at the end game with closed eyes. But nobody also expected Shaheen Shan Afridi to get hammered for 3 consecutive sixes immediately.
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Nov 12, 2021 04:50pm
At the end Both Pakistan and India will be be watching the finals on Sunday
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Nov 12, 2021 04:53pm
@A shah, may be u r right but no one loses by 10 wickets by fluke
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Nov 12, 2021 05:06pm
Birds of a feather flock together . Nepotism and favoritism is ruining everything.
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Nov 12, 2021 05:07pm
Joke of the century.
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Nov 12, 2021 05:16pm
Definitely fixed. Well Paid, Australia.
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Nov 12, 2021 05:20pm
Fans are not taking this as a cricket match.. Abusing the player doesn't help.. just spoils the morale of the team
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Nov 12, 2021 05:29pm
Please remember for rest of your life the centuries old axiom in cricket, "catches win matches."
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Nov 12, 2021 05:31pm
Miread the pitch , with zampa and shadab going great woth the ball, i wonder a brave decision would have been to bring in usman qadir.but unchanged side mindset even when pitch is favouring the spin is not understandable.
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Nov 12, 2021 05:32pm
Dear public…aussies also dropped too many catches…warner was not out…are they crying for this?? Its part of game…we are out of WC…move on
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Nov 12, 2021 06:07pm
@Fastrack, ask the same question from India?
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Nov 12, 2021 06:08pm
Shaheen Afridi lost the match not Hasan Ali.
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Nov 12, 2021 06:42pm
Everyone is thinking about drop catch by Hassanali
At that point we were still in the match-winning position
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Nov 12, 2021 06:43pm
Pakistan played excellently. Please keep it up
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Nov 12, 2021 06:45pm
in the famous words of Ricky Bobby: "if you are not first, you all are last"
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Nov 12, 2021 06:46pm
Catches wins matches simple!
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Nov 12, 2021 06:56pm
@A shah, correct
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Nov 12, 2021 07:02pm
Not his tournmanent
please check full tournament record
think about pakistan
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Nov 12, 2021 07:19pm
Why not given chance to Dhani?
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Nov 12, 2021 07:29pm
Only if the bowler had bowled better and not given 3 consecutive sixes. Poor bowling by Afridi plus Pakistan's batsmen were too slow. Could have easily added 20 runs.
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Nov 12, 2021 07:30pm
Hassan Ali was one of the heroes of the 2017 Champions Trophy. Pakistani public is okay with the loss, it is the media that needs to stop criticizing Hassan.
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Nov 12, 2021 07:34pm
@A shah, if you saw the mtach you would know pak played like a world class team and fought till end .
the only fluke was india win over afg
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Nov 12, 2021 07:38pm
He was sincere, it’s not like he took money to drop the catch or he took money to throw a lame over.
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Nov 12, 2021 07:44pm
Why blame Hassan Ali?
It was shaheen afridi fault for conceding 3 Sixes
Shaheen Afridi is the one who got hit for 3 consecutive sixes and not Hasan Ali
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Nov 12, 2021 07:49pm
Can't we just move on ? The cricket team played some good matches and lost after a good show . It's a game and there will hopefully be many more exciting matches to come in the future .
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Nov 12, 2021 08:08pm
It's part of the game. Blaming him for this is not correct.
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Nov 12, 2021 08:11pm
Well played Pakistan. Do not feel bad on losing. Some people are never meant to be champions.
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Nov 12, 2021 08:22pm
@M. Saeed, Very true, end result counts. Australia also dropped 3 catches.
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Nov 12, 2021 08:36pm
Sorry I disagree with Babar, ftom the start of the tournament and even throughout the PSL, Hasan Ali had performed poorly with the ball, he ended up being the most expensive bowler in the series, with all the statistics going against him, I did not see the logic of persisting with him. At the start of Australian inning commentators made the point that Hasan ali is the weakest link, how come he did not see it. Although we appreciate the effort from the team but they have to answer for mistakes.
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Nov 12, 2021 08:42pm
Hassan Ali should not be included in T20. He is not a T20 matter. Stop nepotism as it is the root cause of all evils. Let the real talent flourish.
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Nov 12, 2021 08:44pm
@Fastrack , it will be a good idea if you will send your precious advise to your skipper Kohli. Our team won the World Cup when the most over rated team was defeated by them.
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Nov 12, 2021 09:12pm
Hassan Ali for a while is out of form and talented players waiting in the wings can not be ignored. S. Afridi and Rouf though excellent , the team requires a fast bowler of the same caliber. There is a need to deal with weakling spot urgently on merits, old loyalties and comradery are not a substitute for merits.
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Nov 12, 2021 09:44pm
Pakistan batsman were great but the bowling was dispointing . Pakistan need bowler like amir.
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Nov 12, 2021 09:44pm
@Faisal , Right on the money! Moreover photos shows that his eyes are closed as he attempted the catch! Had he kept his eyes open and on the ball the result could have been different.
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Nov 12, 2021 09:58pm
No. 1 bowler thrashed 3 sixes in a row by a no. 7 batsman. Should be fixed.??? Right @Fastrack
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Nov 12, 2021 10:39pm
Its unfair to put all the responsibility on Hasan. Shaheen bears equal responsibility, if not more. He conceded 3 consecutive 6s on 3 very same deliveries and 3 same shots i. e. scoop. Why didn't he alter his length after the first 6? Australia taught us how to hit a 6 on a yorker. They outskilled us.
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Nov 12, 2021 10:46pm
Pakistani media is beyond pathetic in criticizing players.
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Nov 12, 2021 11:04pm
Baber may be right but two run outs were missed also count that mistake also
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Nov 13, 2021 12:59am
yes, he did not bowl badly or drop the catch intentionally; but the signs were there, All through the previous matches, it was apparent he was hopelessly out of touch and form and had lost his rhythm and Mojo
It was a serious miscalculation and error to play him in the semifinal. theer were options available; Wasim if pace, Nawaz if spin
The management and captain must stand up and share the blame and loss
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Nov 13, 2021 04:11am
It’s a game. You list. Move on. Grow up!
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Nov 13, 2021 06:37am
It was just not his month. Shouldn't that have given a hint to play a replacement earlier??
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Nov 13, 2021 06:55am
Expert opinion : I would have sent the 12th man on the field.
You cannot have a dejected, brooding bowler in the field ; he had a expensive spell, and he was done bowling and his morale was down, and a more fit player would have fielded better.
A more experienced Captain could have seen it.
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Nov 13, 2021 06:56am
We won against India and that is what matters to Indians.
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Nov 13, 2021 08:48am
Most handsome cricketer in Pakistani cricket team.
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Nov 13, 2021 09:39am
I am sorry but the blame goes to the captain and the management. Hassan Ali hasn't been performing for last few series and in this tournament. He should have been rested and played Nawaz. Understand that western nation don't play spin very well. Look at Shadab taking 4 wickets. This is a Pakistan cricket and not your local team and favoritism and brotherhood doesn't take you anywhere. Seems like we are heading to old habits playing you buddies again in the team
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Nov 13, 2021 11:08am
Ticket to ipl
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Nov 13, 2021 04:33pm
@Shehzad, He will be smashed today. He is no longer the bowler he was. Stop living in the past.
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Nov 13, 2021 07:20pm
@Tariq K Sami. M.D., Right on the money doc! In fact it is the failure of the skipper!
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Nov 13, 2021 07:58pm
a black sheep in Pak team
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Nov 13, 2021 08:37pm
He dropped catch but why give three sizes later. Nobody is asking that.
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Nov 13, 2021 09:28pm
@Fastrack, you should ask IK for the deal he made with Australia for losing. The previous matches were fixed, right?
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