Pakistan have fallen to a new low after a heart-breaking defeat against South Africa in Chennai on Friday.
This was their fourth defeat in a row at the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the first time in their history that they've lost four World Cup games in a row.
Pakistan could post only 271 after batting first, South Africa bowling them out in 46.2 overs. In response, South Africa had to dig deep, with their last-wicket pair managing to see them over the line.
However, this has put the spotlight on another below-par batting effort by Pakistan who have now failed to bat the full 50 overs in only one of their six World Cup 2023 matches so far.
And skipper Babar Azam has been blamed for giving away his wicket cheaply on Friday. Babar scored 50 off 65 balls and when it seemed he had set a platform to accelerate, he was adjudged caught behind off Tabraiz Shamsi with the score at 141/5.
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Only rearguard action from Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan helped Pakistan post 270. And former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has called out Babar Azam for trying to sweep when it was not one of his strengths and putting his team in a precarious position.
It felt as if Pakistan were 20-30 runs short and it was the case after the match as South Africa won by just one wicket.
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Malik: Babar Azam's shot selection was tactically poor
Speaking on a TV channel after South Africa's win, Malik felt Babar was tactically poor to judge the situation and attempted a risky shot which was not one of his strengths.
He felt that Babar had given the team hope with his innings before getting out carelessly.
"There was a short mid-wicket at that point. There was a square leg, there was a somebody in the deep and also a short fine leg. The sweep did not make sense at that point against Shamsi. If Babar had not played a sweep before he got to 50, he did not need to play that shot at that point. He had not tried the sweep when there was no protection against Aiden Markram," Malik explained.
"But you are sweeping at a point when you have taken the team to a position of hope only to let them down. I feel, tactically, it was not a great move by Babar."
He also highlighted Virat Kohli's example and said that the Indian batsman never plays the sweep and always backs his strengths which is something Babar Azam should've done.
"Virat Kohli never plays the sweep. He always backs his strengths and does not play a shot which is not his forte."
Can Pakistan qualify for the World Cup semifinals?
While Pakistan are technically not out of the World Cup semifinal yet, they will have to win all their remaining matches and hope a few results go their way too.
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