In a moment of sheer miscommunication or perhaps a lapse in concentration, Pakistan fielders Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Mohammad Nawaz failed to stop a ball that was well within their reach during a recent warm-up fixture against Australia. The ball rolled past them and kissed the boundary ropes for an effortless four, leaving everyone in disbelief, including their teammate Shaheen Afridi, who couldn’t contain his laughter.
The incident occurred in the 23rd over of Australia’s innings, when Marnus Labuschagne played a shot that seemed destined for a fielder’s grasp. Haris Rauf had delivered a delivery that tucked Labuschagne towards square leg, and it appeared that the ball was well within reach for either Wasim or Nawaz. However, neither fielder made an effort to stop the ball, resulting in a costly four for Australia.
The blunder provided a dose of amusement for cricket fans, who are often entertained by Pakistan’s unpredictable antics on the field. However, it was understandable that bowler Haris Rauf would be displeased to witness such schoolboy errors from his teammates.
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Despite the fielding blunder, Australia got off to an impressive start in their warm-up match against Pakistan. They had amassed 180 runs on the board at the end of the 30th over, albeit at the cost of five wickets. Pakistan’s Usama Mir emerged as the standout bowler, claiming figures of 2/31, while Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz contributed with a wicket each.
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While the cricketing action on the field was entertaining, there has been no shortage of drama off the field for Pakistan’s World Cup journey. A standoff between the PCB and BCCI had caused a significant delay in the announcement of the World Cup schedule. However, cricket enthusiasts can finally breathe a sigh of relief, as the official schedule has been unveiled, complete with the much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash, which now has a confirmed date.
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Pakistan’s World Cup campaign will take them to venues such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata, with the highly anticipated clash against India set to be held in Ahmedabad. The Pakistani team is scheduled to play nine matches in the league stage of the tournament, spread across five venues, kicking off their campaign on October 6 against the Netherlands and concluding on November 11 against England.
Pakistan fans will be hoping that their team can put the fielding blunder behind them and focus on delivering a strong performance in the World Cup. They have a talented squad with a good mix of experience and youth, and they will need to be at their best if they want to challenge for the title.
