The 2023 Cricket World Cup campaign has taken a dark turn for Pakistan after a comprehensive 8-wicket loss to Afghanistan on Monday.
Not only was that Afghanistan's first-ever ODI win over Pakistan, it also dealt a huge blow to Pakistan's semifinal chances.
And skipper Babar Azam cut a forlorn figure after the game, stating that his team are not playing good cricket, especially while bowling and fielding.
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Babar did score a patient 74 as Pakistan posted what seemed a competitive total of 282/7 in their 50 overs. But Afghanistan rarely broke a sweat in their chase and completed it with an over to spare.
And former Pakistan cricketers, including Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Akhtar, have tore into Babar Azam's batting and captaincy following the embarassing loss.
Malik: What is the use of being No.1 ranked if other players are ahead of you?
Babar Azam is currently the No.1 ranked batsman in ODIs but has failed to sparkle at the World Cup. Though he has scored a couple of fifties including a 74 on Monday, he hasn't really taken a game by the scruff or inspired Pakistan to a win.
Against Afghanistan, Babar could only score at a strike rate of around 80, which eventually meant Pakistan were able to post only 282, that too after a late flourish from Ifthikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan.
Shoaib Malik alluded to that fact after Pakistan's loss and implied that other teams in the World Cup might not have No.1 ranked batsmen or bowlers but they have players who perform when it matters.
"Tell me something. Take a look at the teams at the top of the World Cup points table. Tell me how many of their batsmen or bowlers are ranked No.1 or 2? They are not there in the rankings but their teams are top of the table. We just look at individuals and don't care about the team's performance," Malik said.
Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram then added, "We have to understand rankings don't matter. What matters is the team winning trophies and series."
MORE: Pakistan's World Cup semifinal qualification scenarios
If your captaincy is not out of the box, you deserve to be trolled: Shoaib Akhtar
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar also blasted Babar Azam, implying that he deserves the flak he's getting after the Afghanistan loss.
Akhtar hinted that Babar's captaincy was not up to the mark.
"You deserve to be trolled if people think you're not inspiring fans and your team. If your captaincy is not out of the box and you can't do basic things properly, you deserve to be trolled," Akhtar said during a TV show.
"Do you think these players are able to inspire the next generation? Who are they going to inspire?" Akhtar added.
