07 June,2024 08:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pakistan cricket team (Pic: PTI)
The Pakistan cricket fraternity labelled the shocking loss against T20 World Cup debutants USA as a "black day". On Thursday, Babar Azam-led Pakistan faced defeat against the USA in the T20 World Cup 2024 at Grand Prairie Stadium.
The T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and USA ended in a Super Over in which pacer Saurabh Netravalkar showcased his skills with the ball.
Former captain Younis Khan said Pakistan had made some tactical blunders when it mattered the most. "I would have liked to see Fakhar Zaman take the strike in the super over against the left-arm seamer. But one can only learn from such a bad day and I hope Babar Azam and the other players now take every game as a do-or-die game," Younis said.
According to Younis, the most disappointing part was the fact that in the USA, the Pakistani community supported the team wholeheartedly but still the side faced defeat against the hosts.
Babar Azam-led Pakistan will now face arch-rivals India in their next T20 World Cup 2024 fixture on Sunday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
Following their loss in the T20 World Cup 2024 opening match, former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram termed it as pathetic. "It didn't seem like Pakistan was playing against a team that has limited exposure against top teams."
He was also critical of the lack of effort in the field by some of the players. Former opener Mohsin Khan said he was concerned about the future of Pakistan cricket.
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"This is not just a defeat, it is a sorry statement on the mental strength of our players. I don't know what is going on but somewhere I got a feeling our players underestimated USA," he said.
Khan, who was head coach and chief selector from 2010 to 2012, said the upcoming match against India has become a do-or-die contest for the beleaguered side.
"We have to win that game at all costs otherwise we are out of the Super Eight." Pakistan and the USA had scored 159 each in the regulation time before the latter successfully defended 18 runs in the Super Over to register a famous victory in Dallas on Thursday.
"It is a black day in Pakistan cricket history. I mean where is the pride and that fighting spirit that was synonymous with our players," said cricket analyst Omair Alavi.
Before the reverse against the USA, Pakistan have also lost to teams such as Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland in recent times. Former captain Javed Miandad gave credit to the USA team for pulling off a huge upset despite playing for the first time at the game's highest level.
"I mean look at our experience and exposure compared to them but I give full credit to the USA for holding their nerves and playing with discipline. Look at the catches they took, it turned the match in their favour," he said.
The batting great said that it was absolutely necessary now for the players to bounce back in the remaining matches of the tournament. "I look at the psyche of our cricket fans and I think they can redeem themselves by trying to beat India on Sunday," he said. The result has also led to speculations on social media that all is not well in the Pakistan dressing room.
Pakistan's former captain and coach, Mohammad Hafeez, was also critical of the team's forgettable performance, saying that the decision to go back to Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as openers meant the team management had not moved forward.
Natasha, an avid cricket lover and a Babar fan, said if Pakistan can't beat the USA how can one expect them to win against a strong side like India?
"I don't see us playing in the super eight now to be honest. It's over for us in this World Cup. The helplessness of our players was visible on their faces yesterday."
(With PTI Inputs)
