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The Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team did not have the start they or anyone would have expected. The Men in Green were a part of the first upset at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 as they lost to co-hosts USA in a Super Over on Thursday, June 6 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
This defeat did not rest well among the fans as well as former Pakistani cricketers as they lambasted at the team for their “pathetic performance”. Speaking on Star Sports, former Pakistan cricketer and legendary pacer, Wasim Akram questioned their poor performance seeing that they some problems now to qualify in the Super 8s.
“Pathetic performance. Winning and losing is a part of the game. But you need to fight till the last ball. It was bad for Pakistan cricket,” Akram told Star Sports. “Pakistan will struggle from here onwards to qualify for the Super Eight because they have to play India (on June 9) and two more good teams (Ireland and Canada),” he added.
However, the 1992 World Cup winner called USA picking up quick and crucial wickets turned the game in their favour. “The turning point of the game…. the way USA got early wickets. Pakistan had a little partnership between Babar and Shadab and then nobody turned up. The fielding was below average, the overall cricket by Pakistan was average,” he added.
Speaking of the match, USA captain Monank Patel won the toss and invited Pakistan to put the score on the board first. On the back of a 43-ball 44 from skipper Babar Azam and a 25-ball 40-run knock from Shadab Khan helped Pakistan put 159/7 in their 20 overs. But USA skipper playing a much-needed knock of 50 and some crucial contributions from Andries Gous and Aaron Jones helped them level the score and take the match into the Super Over.
Thereafter, USA scored 18 runs in the Super Over, Pakistan failed to chase the total and eventually fell short by five runs, getting a taste of their third defeat in four tied games.
