Pakistan suffered a 1-run loss to Zimbabwe in a nail-biting game in Perth on Thursday and it resulted in harsh criticism from fans and experts alike. The likes of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, Waqar Younis, and Misbah-ul-Haq came hard on Babar Azam and his men Co. for suffering successive defeats in the World Cup, which has increased their chances of elimination. Even former pacer, Shoaib Akhtar minced no words in criticizing the team, but his comments included another prediction that hasn’t gone down too well with the fans.
In the latest video on his Youtube channel, Shoaib Akhtar said, “I had already told Pakistan that they will come back this week. And India will come back next week after playing in the semi-final. Voh bhi koi Tees Maar Khan nahi hai (India are also not some unbeatable side) and we are even worse.”
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India is leading the charts in Group 2 with back-to-back wins against Pakistan and the Netherlands. If they manage to win two of their remaining three games the Rohit Sharma-led side will be all but through to the semi-finals. Pakistan too will be hoping that India win their remaining matches and win three on the bounce to qualify for the semi-final as the second-best team of this group.
Shoaib Akhtar said Babar Azam is a ‘bad captain’ and their middle order isn’t good enough. He said, “Pakistan has a bad captain. Pakistan is out of the world cup in the second game. Against Zimbabwe. Babar, come one down but he is not listening. Major flaw in Shaheen Afridi’s fitness. For god’s sake, you have lost to Zimbabwe. The management and the PCB chairman don’t have brains … We had to play 4 bowlers, and we played 3 fast bowlers.”
Pakistan opted to play Shan Masood in place of Fakhar Zaman in their first two matches, which according to Shoaib Akhtar was a bad move.
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Shoaib Akhtar explained, “Two good openers were needed who can use the 30-yard circle. Fakhar Zaman is sitting there; you didn’t use him. He is a back-foot player, and would do well in Australia…It’s really really embarrassing. We have to give answers to the world. What answers can we give now? No plans, no middle order, no openers … I was saying if Zimbabwe bowled length balls, they would win here. I don’t have trust in this team.”
