NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan fast-bowlers Wasim Akaram and Waqar Younis have sharply criticized the Babar Azam-led side for their six-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup, questioning their inability to win despite restricting India to a modest total of 119.
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During the chase, Pakistan appeared to be in control at 72/2 after 12 overs, with Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman at the crease. However, their dismissals triggered a collapse, and the team could only manage 113/7, falling short by six runs.
"I think India gave Pakistan a good chance of winning this game by batting poorly. They could have easily put up maybe 140-150. Losing those seven wickets right at the end didn't really help. However, India is such a good balanced side. If they don't bat well, they know they have got (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Siraj, Ravindra (Jadeja) - they have their bowling and fielding also really covered, which makes them a super team," Waqar said on Star Sports.
"Pakistan - if you can't win this game, what should I say? This was given to you on a plate and Pakistan really spilled it. It was a horrible performance by the Pakistani batters. There were a few partnerships in the beginning but they couldn't really finish the game," Waqar added.
Waqar specifically criticized Rizwan for his decision to play across the line against Jasprit Bumrah, which led to his dismissal and turned the game in India's favor. "The game was in hand, it was run-a-ball. That shot from Mohammad Rizwan was very ordinary, and when he played that shot and got out, I knew something special was going to happen because we know Bumrah and Siraj's capabilities," he said.
Legendary left-arm fast-bowler Wasim Akram echoed Waqar's sentiments, lamenting the lack of game awareness among Pakistani players. "They have been playing cricket for 10 years, and I can’t teach them. Rizwan has no game awareness. He should have known that Bumrah was given the ball to take wickets and that the wise thing would have been to play his deliveries cautiously. But Rizwan went for a big shot and lost his wicket."
Akram directed his criticism towards batters Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed, suggesting a lack of improvement despite years in the team. "Iftikhar Ahmed knows one shot on the leg side. He has been a part of the team for years but doesn’t know how to bat. I can’t go and tell about the game awareness to Fakhar Zaman. Pakistani players think that if they don’t perform well, the coaches will be sacked, and nothing will happen to them. It is time to keep the coaches and change the entire team."
He also revealed internal discord, stating that captain Babar Azam and left-arm fast-bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi are not on speaking terms following a captaincy change earlier this year. "There are players who don’t want to talk to each other. This is international cricket, and you play for your country. Make these players sit at home."
1/9:T20 World Cup: Bumrah delivers as India beat Pakistan in low-scoring thriller
AFP
2/9:India beat Pakistan in New York
Jasprit Bumrah was the hero as India beat Pakistan by six runs in a low-scoring T20 World Cup thriller in New York on Sunday.AP
3/9:Bumrah's Heroics
India were bowled out by Pakistan for 119 in 19 overs. Defending the small total, Bumrah delivered crucial wickets and his 3-14 in four overs proved decisive as Pakistan fell just short ending on 113-7.ANI
4/9:Crowd Excitement
Despite a tricky batting surface that made batting difficult, a crowd of 34,028, a record attendance for an international cricket match in the USA, were given a tight contest that ebbed and flowed.AFP
5/9:Pakistan's Chase
Naseem Shah made a valiant effort, hitting the fourth and fifth balls of the last over for fours but India avoided any late drama to secure their second win of the tournament.ANI
6/9:Bumrah's Crucial Wickets
Bumrah picked up the vital wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam (13) and Mohammad Rizwan (31). Then, in the penultimate over, Bumrah conceded just three runs and removed Iftikhar Ahmed with his final ball.AP
7/9:Final Over Drama
<b>That left Pakistan needing 18 from the final over, a steep task on a difficult batting surface and it got more tricky when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Imad Wasim with the first ball.</b>AFP
8/9:Pakistan's Tough Loss
For Pakistan, their loss, coming after the shock defeat to the USA, leaves them without a point and with a lot of work to do against Canada and Ireland if they are to fight their way into the Super Eight stage.AP
9/9:Rain Interruption
Rain delayed the start of the game, played in front of a packed 34,000 fans, the majority of whom were backing tournament favourites India.AFP(With inputs from IANS)
