While Pakistan managed to secure their first point in the ongoing T20 World Cup with a 7-wicket victory over Canada, the threat of elimination still looms large. Consecutive defeats at the hands of the USA and India have dealt a significant blow to their campaign, leaving them reliant on favorable outcomes in other matches.
Despite having the opportunity to recover from the setback against the USA, Pakistan squandered it, succumbing to a defeat despite holding a comfortable position for much of the match. This loss has invited relentless criticism from fans, former cricketers, and ex-captains.
Former skipper Wasim Akram, visibly perturbed by Pakistan’s narrow 6-run loss, expressed his discontent on camera during a Star Sports segment before Pakistan’s encounter with Canada in New York. He emphasized the urgent need to introduce fresh talent into the team.
“I can’t bring that (killer) instinct in them. It has to come from within,” said Akram.
“Boht ho gaya, boht back kar liya. Ab ye viral ho jaye ho jaye, I don’t care (enough is enough, backed them enough, now I don’t care even if this goes viral). Somebody has to speak the truth about this Pakistan cricket (team). It’s kind of getting out of hand.
“Kisi ka mood off hai, woh uss se baat nahi kar raha, yeh uss se baat nahi kar raha (somebody’s mood is off, this guy is not talking to that guy). Come on guys! What is this going on! Poore mulq ke jazbaat ka tumne satyanaash maar ke rakh diya hai. Hadd hoti hai kisi cheez ki (you have played with the emotions of the entire nation, there is a limit to everything).
“Enough is enough! Done! Bring in new kids, and make a new Pakistan team. The entire Pakistan community back home and here (in the US) is depressed. They were celebrating that we were winning (against India), after a long time, that too against such a big team. But they (Pakistan team) said ‘no, we don’t want to win come what may’,” Akram said.
“Now they should go, look at themselves in the mirror and say on their own that they won’t play now… My advice to them (Pakistan Cricket Board) will be to play a new team, new kids. We are anyway losing… mould those kids. There will be a team in place in one year’s time,” he concluded.
With just a solitary match remaining, Pakistan’s maximum potential tally in the group stage stands at 4 points. In the scenario where the India vs. USA fixture scheduled for Wednesday is washed out, Pakistan’s journey in the tournament would come to an abrupt halt. The cancellation of the match would see both India and the USA progressing to the Super 8 stage with 4 points apiece.
