After Pakistan’s consecutive defeats in the World Cup 2023, cricket pundits are pointing fingers at captain Babar Azam for the team’s dismal performance.
In their latest humbling loss on Monday, Afghanistan showcased an outstanding display of both batting and bowling, dealing Pakistan an unexpected eight-wicket defeat.
Former captain Wasim Akram, speaking on a local sports channel, held the PCB chairman, selectors, coaches, and captain all accountable for the team’s lackluster performance in the tournament.
He questioned the decision to give the ball to Usama Mir instead of utilizing key bowlers like Shaheen, Haris, and Hasan Ali in the crucial 45-over mark. Akram also raised concerns about the fitness levels of the players.
“It was embarrassing today. To reach 280-odd losing just two wickets is pretty big. Wet pitch or not, look at the fielding, the fitness levels. We’ve been screaming for the last three weeks that these players haven’t undergone a fitness test in the last two years. If I start taking individual names, their faces will drop. Looks like these guys are eating 8 kilos of mutton every day. Should there not be tests,” he added.
Former right-handed batter Shoaib Malik placed the primary responsibility for this defeat on captain Babar Azam. While acknowledging Babar’s prowess as a batsman, Malik expressed disappointment in his leadership skills, deeming them subpar.
Former captain Moin Khan echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that despite leading for over three years, there hasn’t been notable growth in Babar’s captaincy skills.
Misbah-ul Haq, another former captain, attributed the team’s poor performance to flawed strategy. He highlighted Haris Rauf’s struggles in powerplay overs and suggested a change in approach.
Malik chimed in, underscoring the challenges faced by the spinning department and advocated for utilizing players like Saud Shakeel for bowling.
Afghanistan’s victory over Pakistan marked their first-ever win in eight ODIs against their rivals. This triumph comes on the heels of their surprising victory over defending champions England. Pakistan’s World Cup campaign is now in jeopardy with three losses in five games and a formidable match against South Africa looming.
Conversely, Afghanistan’s campaign has received a boost with two wins in five matches, and they will face struggling Sri Lanka in their next match.
