(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] The Babar Azam-led Pakistan team put up a disappointing show against Afghanistan at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium in the 22nd match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Monday.
Afghanistan made history on Monday as they defeated the Men in Green by eight wickets for the first time in ODI cricket, breaking Pakistan’s streak of seven wins over them.
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. Their batters were not up to the mark with Babar being the highest scorer, having accumulated only 74 runs. They somehow managed to end up at 282 runs, thanks to Iftikhar Ahmed’s late power-hitting.
While chasing, Afghanistan looked determined and hungry for a win over Pakistan as their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran played brilliantly and formed a 130-run partnership. Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Gurbaz from the crease, but Rahmat Shah and Zadran carried forward the innings. Zadran missed out on a deserving century and got dismissed by Hasan Ali on 87. The 96-run partnership between Rahmat and Hashmatullah Shahidi helped Afghanistan cross the finishing line and chase down the target with six balls remaining.
Wasim Akram, a former Pakistan pacer, criticized Babar and Co. for their disappointing performance. He stated that Pakistani players have no fitness standards at all, citing their poor fielding display on Monday.
“It was embarrassing today. To reach 280-odd losing just two wickets is pretty big. Wet pitch or no, look at the fielding, the fitness levels,” Akram said as quoted on A Sports.
“We’ve been screaming for the last 3 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 everyday. Should there not be tests?” he added.
Furthermore, Akram acknowledged that when Misbah-ul-Haq was the team’s coach, there were certain criteria that players hated, but it worked out well.
“Professionally you guys are getting paid, playing for your country. There has to be a certain criteria. Misbah, when he was coach, had that criteria. Players hated him but it worked. Fielding is all about fitness and that’s where we are lacking, now we have reached that same position, where we will pray for ifs and buts to happen,” Akram concluded.
In their next World Cup match, Pakistan will face South Africa on October 27 in Chennai. From hereon, every game for them is must-win.