England entered the 2023 ODI World Cup as firm favorites, but they have been far from impressive so far. After losing their fourth consecutive match, a 100-run defeat to India, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the Three Lions for their approach. In a video posted on social media, Akhtar said that England are trying to win 50-over games with a T20 formula, which is a sign of poor planning.
“There is no planning on who will build an innings, who will play at a run-a-ball, who will construct an innings and who will slog,” Shoaib Akhtar said.
Akhtar also questioned England’s intent, saying that he is sad to see them heading out of the World Cup. “Bazball is fine in Test matches, but you have to play an ODI like an ODI,” he said.
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With three games to go in the league stage, England is at the bottom of the points table with just 2 points and 5 defeats. Only an unlikely mathematical miracle can save them now. England captain Jos Buttler expressed his disappointment over his team’s campaign at the post-match presentation.
England has been a big surprise package this World Cup. Just not in the way they may have wanted to be. #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/6Itp721pDQ
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) October 29, 2023
“Answers on a postcard,” Jos Buttler said. “There’s some top players in there who were a long way short of their best.” Buttler also said that he is disappointed with the way England have batted in the tournament. “At the halfway stage chasing 230 we fancied ourselves,” he said. “But it’s the same old story.”
Buttler also said that he is not sure what to do about England’s batting problems.
“The gut feeling was that we wanted to chase,” he said. “It is as good as we have been with the ball throughout the tournament. We took some good wickets so we are very disappointed.”
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England’s performance in the World Cup has been a major disappointment. They have been unable to find the right balance between batting and bowling, and they have also struggled to cope with the pressure of playing in a big tournament. It is still too early to say what the long-term consequences of England’s World Cup failure will be. However, it is clear that the team needs to make some major changes in order to be successful in the future.
