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Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Mohammad Kaif has expressed solidarity with the Pakistan cricket team amidst the heavy criticism they are facing for their disappointing defeats to the USA and India in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Kaif acknowledged the dismal performance of the Pakistan team in their initial two Group A matches in the current T20 World Cup, while also lamenting the apparent lack of support from fans and former players during their struggles. However, he noted a glimmer of hope as the Men in Green managed to secure a convincing seven-wicket victory against Canada in their third encounter.
Speaking on Star Sports, Mohammad Kaif remarked, “The fans’ prayers are not with them. There is chaos there. Who is backing them? I observe everything, and no one seems to be supporting them, despite their poor performance.”
While highlighting specific instances of subpar play, such as Mohammad Amir’s wayward deliveries during a crucial Super Over against the USA and their failure to chase a modest total of 119 against Team India, Kaif underscored Pakistan’s inconsistent performance. Despite their resounding win over Canada, Kaif pointed out that Pakistan failed to deliver a noteworthy performance deserving of praise.
Additionally, the former Indian batter criticized the team’s inability to handle pressure situations, citing examples where key players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan faltered after promising starts in matches, ultimately resulting in losses for the team.
Mohammad Kaif says They didn’t do anything there for which you should praise them
He further noted, “In the first match, Mohammad Amir was bowling wides in the Super Over. It was extremely poor bowling. You lost that match because of bowling. In the next match, they couldn’t chase 119. They batted badly and dropped catches. I understand they have defeated Canada but they didn’t do anything there for which you should praise them.”
In the meantime, Kaif recalled that Babar was well-established during the match against India and had the potential to secure victory, with Rizwan also finding his footing. However, despite their promising positions, the Men in Green succumbed to pressure and ultimately lost the match. He noted that Pakistan’s struggles are exacerbated by their inability to field consistently and their faltering batting performances under pressure, contributing to their challenges in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
Can fortune favor Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024? The ex-Indian cricketer also touched upon Pakistan’s historical luck in ICC events, noting that despite their inconsistent showings, the Men in Green occasionally progress unexpectedly, thanks to their fortunate breaks. Kaif remarked that luck has often favored Pakistan, enabling them to advance to knockout stages even when their chances seem slim, suggesting the possibility of a similar miraculous turn of events in this tournament as well.
Kaif signed off by saying, “We have seen that many times. They haven’t played well but luck favors them. If the Ireland vs USA match happens and Ireland win and Pakistan win the next match, both will be at four points and it will go down to net run rate.”
It’s worth mentioning that Pakistan’s last Group A fixture in the T20 World Cup 2024 is scheduled against Ireland on June 16 at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida. Presently, they occupy the third position in the Group A standings with a total of two points.
