Pakistan had a difficult campaign in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, going from being favorites to win the tournament to struggling to find a place in the knockout stages of the tournament. As it stands, Babar Azam’s team has won only 2 out of 5 matches so far, losing 3 in a row to India, Australia and Afghanistan.
Read also| Pakistan likely to sack Babar Azam as captain, says report: Here’s who could replace him
The Men in Green currently sit in sixth place in the World Cup points table with a net run rate of -0.400 and will now have to rely on other teams’ results as well as winning all their remaining World Cup matches.
Babar Azam struggled as an individual and a leader, with the world’s number one ODI batsman looking a shadow of his former self in the big event, while other players, barring Mohammad Rizwan and perhaps Abdullah Shafiq, also struggled to find their feet in the tournament.
More importantly, Pakistan’s bowling line-up, which was the strongest element of their team, looked toothless in the subsequent matches while the fielders were ineffective, as Iftikhar Ahmed admitted in his recent press conference.
“We have spinners in our team, including me and (Mohammad) Nawaz. Yes, our spinners’ role has not been that effective here. But we will keep trying to improve. That’s all we can do,” he was earlier quoted by PTI as saying.
Pakistan Cricket Board hints at Babar’s removal from the captaincy:
Adding to concerns over skipper Babar Azam’s woes, the Pakistan Cricket Board issued a vague statement suggesting that the 29-year-old may be removed from the captaincy after carefully monitoring events in the ongoing World Cup.
“In the face of media scrutiny directed at Captain Babar Azam and the team management, the Board’s position, echoing that of former cricketers, is that successes and defeats are part of the game,” the PCB said in a statement quoted by PTI. Captain Babar Azam and President Mukhtar Nizam-ul-Haq have been given freedom. And support in forming the team for the 2023 FIFA World Cup.”
“Looking to the future, the Board will take decisions in the best interest of Pakistan Cricket based on the team’s performance in the World Cup. At present, the Board of Directors of Cricket encourages fans, former players and stakeholders to rally behind the team in their quest for victory. The statement added:” “Back in this huge event.”
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Updated: October 27, 2023, 01:12 PM IST
