Pakistan has started their T20 World Cup against the host United States of America in Dallas. But unfortunately, the way Pakistan wanted to kick off their campaign, that didn’t happen as they lost to the USA in a thrilling super-over. This was the first and very unexpected upset in this edition of the T20 World Cup. After this disappointment, Pakistani fans and cricket experts seemed very disappointed and expressed their opinions about the game as well.
Basit Ali on Pakistan’s Performance:
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali expressed his disappointment with the Pakistan team after their defeat. He criticized Babar Azam, the current national team captain after Pakistan lost to the USA in Match 11 of the T20 World Cup 2024 on June 6. Pakistan’s first game of the tournament was against the co-hosts, which they lost in a Super over at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas.
After their unexpected defeat, former cricketers heavily criticized the team for their disappointing performance at the global competition. Basit Ali also joined the critics, raising concerns about Babar’s choices in selecting the team and alleging favoritism. He said, “He has been consistently selecting players who are close to him and that has put paid to Pakistan’s chances.”
Ahmed Shahzad, a Pakistani cricketer, has joined Basit Ali in criticizing Babar for favoritism. Shahzad alleged that Babar has been showing bias by choosing his close friends for the team.
Pakistan’s Poor Performance Against USA:
Pakistan faced a challenging start after being put in to bat first, losing three crucial wickets early on with only 26 runs on the scoreboard in 4.4 overs. Mohammad Rizwan (9 off 8), Usman Khan (3 off 3), and Fakhar Zaman (11 off 7) were dismissed quickly, putting their team in a difficult position.
However, Babar Azam (44 off 43) and Shadab Khan (40 off 25) steadied the innings with a partnership of 72 runs off 48 balls. Despite their departures, Iftikhar Ahmed (18* off 14) and Shaheen Afridi (23* off 16) made significant contributions, aiding Pakistan in reaching a total of 159/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
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