NEW DELHI: Pakistan put up a fight after Australia's mammoth opening stand in their ICC World Cup match in Bengaluru on Friday and then put themselves in a position to chase down Australia's 367/9, but eventually fell apart in run-chase. And the 62-run loss hasn't gone down well with former Pakistan players, who blasted the team for shot-selection and intent.
Speaking on a cricket show on news channel 'A Sports', former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik said that despite having all the skills, the team fails to execute in crunch situations and doesn't play like the current top teams.
"The present top teams in modern-day cricket, we don't play like them. We have to adapt," said Malik. "Not that we don't have the skills. We have the skills, but we don't want to play like that."
When asked the explaiin the reasons for that, Malik said, ask the players.
"They (the team) will tell what's going on in their heart. I am not playing. If I were playing, I would have told you the reasons," Malik added.
He also alleged that individual goals are being preferred over team goals.
"I always emphasise that team goals should come first, not the individual ones," the former right-handed batsman added.
The Pakistan fielding and bowling let Australia off the hook as David Warner (163) and Mitchell Marsh (121) scored big hundreds and added 259 runs for the opening stand in 33.5 overs.
Pakistan then staged a comeback -- first through Shaheen Shah Afridi's spell of 5/54 and then by their openers Abdullah Shafique (64) and Imam-ul-Haque (70) in an opening partnership of 134.
But the Pakistan middle and lower order lost way after being in the contest at 232/3 in the 35th over.
"Shafique scored 64 and Imam scored 70. Very good start but no use of such innings if you can't convert those to big hundreds," reckoned Malik.
The defeat pushed Pakistan down to No. 5 on the points table, while Australia jumped up to No. 4.
(AI image)
