ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s cricket supporters and former players are incensed over their team’s cautious batting after rival India emerged victorious in the Twenty20 World Cup final in New York with an exciting six-run victory.
Pakistan faces the risk of missing out on the Super 8 stage of the competition, which the United States and the West Indies are co-hosting, following a second straight defeat in Group A on Sunday.
Playing in its inaugural World Cup, the United States had created history last Thursday when it defeated Pakistan in a Super Over after both sides were tied at 159 in the scheduled 20-over match.
Out of the four groups, only two teams move on to the next round. Pakistan must thus win its final two matches against Canada and Ireland in order to advance, and it must also pray that the outcomes of the other group games go its way.
“I feel like I should have a template text that says ‘disappointed and hurt’ that gets posted automatically,” former fast bowler for Pakistan Shoaib Akhtar commented on X, the platform that was just Twitter.
On the sports station PTV Sports on national television, Akhtar stated, “We should give credit to Pakistan; they tried their best to lose this game. I could not think of any other way.” Nobody urged you to hit or do anything foolish; it was just a run-a-ball game. Disappointed, shocked, and shocked, but it was to be anticipated.
According to Akhtar, there is no chance that the Pakistani cricket team would improve in the near future because its members are just regular players.
He declared, “They won’t change.” You can’t expect exceptional things from regular people; you’re asking for too much. Once mediocrity sets in, it’s impossible to rise beyond. For the past 20 years, that is what you have gotten out of your investment in cricket.
The International Cricket Council was also chastised by Akhtar for the drop-in pitches in New York, which had resulted in five low-scoring games.
He said, “Who makes that kind of tracks?” “You were given a year to get ready. Hi, ICC, please awaken.
After its fast bowlers had dismissed India for 119 in 19 overs on yet another unforgiving surface where hitters were still finding it difficult, Pakistan squandered a golden opportunity. When set batsman Mohammad Rizwan made a rash shot against Jasprit Bumrah, the score was cruising along at 80-3 in 13 overs. Eventually, Pakistan was limited at 113-7.
“Batsmen throw it away as Pakistan lose to India in low-scoring thriller,” the English daily Dawn’s front page headline said. Additionally, a photo of Rizwan on his knee following a clean bowling and Bumrah and Virat Kohli celebrating the dismissal were plastered throughout the newspaper.
Another English daily used the title, “Pakistan squander solid start as India claim T20 thriller.”
After Pakistan’s loss to India, former fast bowling greats Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, who were commentating on the match from New York, also let out their frustration.
“I can’t teach them, they’ve been playing cricket for ten years,” Akram remarked. “Rizwan is not aware of the game.” He should have understood that Rizwan went for the big shot and lost his wicket, but Bumrah was handed the ball to take wickets and that the prudent thing would have been to play his deliveries conservatively.
Younis claimed that the batters’ performance was awful.
“What should I say, Pakistan, if you can’t win this game?” he said. Pakistan truly spilled the contents that were placed on a dish for you. The Pakistani batsmen’ performance was awful. In the beginning, there were a few couples, but they were unable to complete the game.
Thousands of ardent cricket enthusiasts flocked to big screens in Pakistan’s main cities to witness the highly anticipated match between the two nuclear-armed countries, who have not engaged in a bilateral match in more than ten years but frequently face off in ICC competitions.
At least 17,000 spectators attended the live broadcast of the match on screens at the Pindi Cricket Stadium “fan park,” which was organised by the ICC.
After leaving the stadium in shock with his four pals, Ibrahim Irfan, a 20-year-old university student, said, “I can’t believe it.” In the mildest, it’s repulsive. They are chasing such a modest objective; how can they lose a game? We require a thorough revision. The same worthless batters, such as Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Imad Wasim, are getting old and boring to watch.
Another fan who saw the match on a huge screen in Karachi, Ahmed Awan, claimed that Pakistani sportsmen compete for their own personal achievements.
“They did a good job of bowling, but their batting was lacking.” They should bat first both in the middle order and with the tailenders because they are competing for personal records. The first players should enter the game in the second half, whether it is Babar or Rizwan.
