Former Pakistan cricketers Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul accused Shadab Khan of "running away" as South Africa clinched a thriller by one wicket at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
This is their worst run in the ICC Cricket World Cup as it is for the first time they went down in four straight games.
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During the second innings, Pakistan's Shadab Khan suffered a blow to the head while diving to field a ground ball. He went off temporarily, only to return after a while. However, he was soon withdrawn from the game, with Usama Mir replacing him as a concussion substitute.
What did Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul say about Shadab Khan?
Former Pakistan players Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir blasted Shadab for choosing to go off the field in what was a crucial match for the team.
However, Shadab's replacement, Usama did an impressive job with the ball as he picked two wickets including that of set batsman Aiden Markram who looked determined to get South Africa over the line by staying until the end.
"I think Shadab should have fought. I don't know the extent of his injury," Tanvir said on a post-match show in Pakistan.
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The presenter then asked if he thinks that Shadab ran way from the challenge, Tanvir Replied: "If I was there, I would have fought."
Meanwhile, Umar responded: "I am very sad. I think our World Cup journey is done. Our hopes have ended. I don't know the seriousness of the injury. But questions will be asked when you make concussion an excuse to run away from the team and then when you return, you start talking to people.
"Then when you realise that the match can go in our favour, you come out in the dugout again to cheer, it means that you made an excuse. So people will ask questions. It was an important game and as a senior, you had to be there on the pitch. There are many examples when players have continued to play in spite of broken hands as they chose to fight for the sake of the team. I don't agree with Shadab. I don't think he had a serious injury. For most of the innings he was inside the dressing room. When one or two wickets were left, you came out on camera to cheer and clap for the team. It just means that you are playing with the emotions of 24 crore Pakistani people. It is not funny. It is not your team, but the team of 24 crore Pakistani people."
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When is Pakistan's next match at Cricket World Cup 2023?
Pakistan's next match at the 2023 World Cup will be against Bangladesh in Kolkata on 31 October, 2023. The match will begin at 2:00pm IST.
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