Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has shown his displeasure over Pakistan’s dismal show in their 2023 World Cup match against Afghanistan in Chennai on Monday, October 23. They faced an embarrassing eight-wicket defeat as they failed to defend a 282-run total as well. This was their third defeat in a row in the ongoing mega event and their first-ever loss to Afghanistan in ODIs as well.
Speaking in his latest YouTube video, he said: “If you saw the body language of these players, you would not believe that this was a Pakistani team. They looked scared and underconfident. It seemed as if they were worried about dropping a catch or thinking about what would happen if they conceded a lot of runs in an over.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator also questioned Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s tactics to depend on his spinners during the latter stages of the innings, even when pace bowler Hasan Ali was able to do reverse swing from one end as well.
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“Pakistan have a lot of problems to deal with. Babar Azam needs to improve a lot tactically. Hasan Ali was getting the ball to reverse towards the back end of the innings. The equation was run-a-ball at that stage. Pakistan needed wickets, and Hasan Ali looked very close to getting a dismissal. What was the need to bowl a spinner from the other end?,” he again shared.
However, Ramiz Raja also added that Pakistan have never faced such a shocking defeat in the history of the game. He added that their defeat to Afghanistan will be a major cause for concern as well.
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“It was a massive disaster for Pakistan in this World Cup. Losing to Afghanistan will hurt badly. The disappointment was writ large on Babar Azam’s face when I interviewed him… Pakistan have never dealt with a surprising defeat like this one before. After this World Cup, there has to be a serious discussion about altering the DNA of this team. They need a complete overhaul in terms of mindset, approach, new talent, and new ideas. We need to improve on each and every aspect. Pakistan have hit rock bottom. Babar Azam needs to step up and prove himself as a leader amid all this,” Ramiz Raja concluded.
