Pakistan’s Cricket World Cup journey has taken a turbulent turn, with their hopes of reaching the semi-finals now hanging by a thread after an unexpected eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan. This recent defeat marks the third consecutive setback for the team, following their promising start with two initial victories. As we delve into the woes of Babar Azam‘s squad, let’s explore three key issues that have hampered their performance:
1. Diminished Bowling Prowess
Pakistan’s bowling unit was once hailed as world-class, raising high hopes during the Asia Cup. They made headlines when they successfully limited a formidable Indian team to 266 all out in a rain-interrupted match at Pallekele. This performance sent a clear message to their World Cup competitors.
However, just two weeks before the grand event, Pakistan’s campaign took a blow as key fast bowler Naseem Shah was sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, although having managed to secure ten wickets in five games, struggled to make a significant impact. His best efforts came in matches they lost, including figures of 2-36 against India and 5-54 facing Australia. In contrast, during the opening wins against Netherlands and Sri Lanka, he managed just two wickets, conceding a combined total of 103 runs.
The team’s troubles extended beyond the pace bowlers, as their spinners failed to deliver on the slow, turning Indian pitches. Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, and Iftikhar Ahmed have collectively managed only six wickets in five matches, conceding a staggering 502 runs.
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2. Captaincy Under Scrutiny
Babar Azam, renowned as one of the top batsmen in white-ball cricket, found himself in the hot seat as captain. While he has demonstrated his batting prowess with two fifties at the World Cup, questions have arisen regarding his leadership on the field. Some critics have accused him of adopting a passive approach to field settings and alleged favoritism in player selection, particularly toward his friends.
Babar Azam responded to these claims by saying, “I don’t feel a lot of pressure when it comes to captaincy or my batting. When I bat, I try to give it my all.” He also highlighted the challenges of leading the team in an environment where Pakistani fans have effectively been banned from attending, coupled with stringent security measures that have confined the squad to their hotels when not involved in playing or training.
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3. Lack of Organizational Stability
Pakistan’s Cricket Board has witnessed a series of unsettling changes, with three different chairmen in the past year. These frequent transitions disrupted the planning and preparation for the World Cup. The decision to appoint Mickey Arthur as team director while he maintained his county job in England was met with criticism, with some dubbing him a “Zoom coach.”
Additionally, Pakistan officials have been accused of mismanaging the workload of their fast bowlers, particularly Naseem and Shaheen, who are involved in all three formats of the game. Injuries to their potential replacements, Ihsanullah and Mohammad Hasnain, forced Pakistan to recall Hasan Ali.
Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram summed it up, saying, “You were not able to find a coach and since you liked foreign ones you hired an online coach. We change our system frequently, and that is showing in our performance in the World Cup.”
In conclusion, Pakistan’s World Cup journey is marred by challenges in their bowling department, questions surrounding captaincy, and organizational instability. These issues have contributed to their turbulent performance in the tournament, leaving their semi-final aspirations in doubt.
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