The much-anticipated match between India and Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 unfolded on Sunday at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The contest, which turned into a low-scoring battle, saw India narrowly defeating Pakistan by a narrow margin of 6 runs.
Pakistan’s fails to chase
After packing India for a mere 119 runs, it seemed likely that Pakistan would achieve the target with ease. The Men in Green started their chase well, losing just two wickets for 57 runs in 10.1 overs. However, Indian bowlers maintained pressure, ultimately restricting Pakistan to 113/7, resulting in a 6-run defeat.
Impact on Pakistan’s tournament hopes
A win against India could have revitalized Pakistan’s chances of advancing to the Super 8s in the T20 World Cup 2024, especially after their initial loss to the USA on June 6. The defeat left fans, analysts, and former Pakistani cricketers, including ex-captain Shahid Afridi, deeply frustrated. Afridi, present in New York, voiced his discontent publicly.
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Shahid Afridi slams Pakistan team
Afridi addressed his disappointment through a video message on his YouTube channel, highlighting that the target of 120 runs was achievable, yet the team failed to meet it. He criticized the overreliance on bowlers and the batters’ inability to contribute effectively.
“We [Pakistan] just needed to score 120 runs [to win] on the pitch where India was 35-40 runs short [in the first innings] but with the disciplined bowling of their bowlers, we failed to score even 120 runs. It was a game of 120 runs on 120 balls. Why? Because we [Pakistan] always blame the bowlers for not restricting teams on small totals because that is how our mindset has been set that we just don’t want to score runs,” said Afridi.
The former cricketer expressed his despair over the overall performance of Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 and their recent games, conveying his frustration and lack of hope.
“We [Pakistan] failed to score such a total with such a strong batting line-up. I have no words. All I have is disappointment,” Afridi concluded.
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