batting line-up crumbled in the initial stages. This dismal performance drew criticism from legendary Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis, who voiced his disappointment during the live telecast of the match. “Pakistan are losing the plot, USA all over Pakistan now,” Younis remarked, reflecting the team’s precarious position.
Early Wickets Put Pakistan on Back Foot
Younis’ scathing assessment stemmed from the early dismissals of Pakistan’s top order. Fakhar Zaman, known for his aggressive batting, mistimed his shot and fell cheaply for 11 runs. This was followed by the quick dismissals of Usman Khan (3 runs) and star batsman Mohammad Rizwan (9 runs), leaving Pakistan reeling at a fragile 26-3 after just 4.4 overs. The USA bowlers capitalized on the early jitters, effectively stifling Pakistan’s batting momentum.
Pakistan’s struggles in the powerplay were further highlighted by USA skipper Monank Patel’s decision to bowl first. This strategy proved highly successful, with bowlers Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Nosthush Kenjige sharing the spoils. Khan bagged the crucial wicket of Zaman, while Netravalkar dismissed Rizwan with a spectacular catch taken by Steven Taylor. Kenjige also chipped in with a wicket, restricting Pakistan to a meagre 26 runs for the loss of three wickets within the powerplay.
Pakistan’s History of Powerplay Woes
While Pakistan’s batting collapse against the USA was concerning, it wasn’t entirely unprecedented. The team has had its share of struggles in the powerplay during T20 World Cups. While they managed 30 runs against the USA, this score represents their fifth-lowest powerplay total in the history of the tournament. Pakistan’s lowest powerplay score remains 13 runs, which they recorded against West Indies at Mirpur in the 2009 edition.
Pakistan now faces the daunting task of resurrecting their innings after a disastrous start. The early collapse has put immense pressure on the middle and lower order to salvage the situation. Whether they can weather this storm and post a competitive total remains to be seen. Waqar Younis‘ harsh criticism serves as a wake-up call for the Pakistani team, urging them to demonstrate greater resilience and fight their way back into the match. Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
