The fervor around the involvement of Pakistan in the ICC (International Cricket Council) T20 World Cup 2024 jostled Pakistani fans with renewed optimism. The team was well prepared for the blockbuster event after seeing that Pakistan played T20 fixtures with New Zealand, England, and Ireland.
Setting aside any lingering uncertainty, we gave our unconditional support to the team thinking that we would witness action-packed performances. But as history dictates, the mercurial nature of the Pakistani team left no stone unturned in battering the utopian ideal.
Disastrous performances by the Pakistani team under the captaincy of Babar Azam against the USA and India follow this. Fans were reeling with anger with cricketing pundits oblivious as to how the team managed to hit rock bottom. Even the win against Canada and Ireland did not suffice, as the team was eliminated in the first stage of the World Cup.
Therefore, this article focuses on the enigma that is the Pakistani team, reviewing their performance, and analyzing the root causes of their abysmal track record.
Backdrop of Pakistan Cricket Team in T20 World Cup 2024
A preview of the World Cup indicates that the Pakistani team faced off three formidable teams i.e. New Zealand, Ireland, and England. The scorecard hinted at a stellar performance with a draw witnessed against New Zealand, a 2-1 win against the Irish, and a defeat against England. Therefore, any irregularities were dissolved when a reluctant fifteen-member squad was announced ahead of their T20 World Cup saga.
Evaluating the player lineup, in batting we had the duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan (linchpins to opening partnerships) along with Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, and “Ifti Chacha” aka Iftikhar Ahmed. Adding on, our pace attack was spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abbas Afridi, and Mohammad Amir (a wildcard entry). Subsequently, our spinners included Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, and Abrar Ahmed.
In this regard, viewers would confess that aside from select players; a decent team had been hatched, this was proven wrong when the rot resurfaced in the form of timid batting, fielding flaws, organizational mismanagement, poor captaincy, and lackluster strategy and decision making in the USA and India match.
USA vs Pakistan – An Unexpected Defeat
Pakistan clashed with the newcomers—USA, on 6th June in Dallas. The USA bested the Pakistani team despite being a well-seasoned force in the super overs. With a target of 18, the team fell short in chasing it, showcasing their below-the-par capability in each department. In batting, the middle order batsmen i.e. Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Usman Khan were unable to capitalize on loose deliveries and rotate the strike frequently.
Bowlers, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir struggled to find their line and length, conceding runs due to full tosses and wides. Adding to this, sloppy fielding was apparent throughout, giving a much-needed edge to the USA. Their star player Saurabh Netravalkar (a part-time cricketer) restricted Pakistani batters to a shameful 13 in the super over. One would say that Babar could’ve used some foresight to send power hitters first, but we saw Iftikhar and Shadab leading the team from the crease—a questionable decision that impacted Pakistan in the end.
India vs Pakistan – Clash of Titans
The much-awaited match of arch-rivals—Pakistan and India was played in New York on 9th June. The pitch report suggested a drop-in surface signaling difficulty for the batters. Furthermore, the rain spell complicated matters, giving an added advantage for fast bowlers to attack the batsman. Pakistan, in this case, was lucky as their bowlers such as Naseem Shah, Muhammad Amir, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi confined the Indian team to a modest 119.
With this, Pakistan was confident in chasing the score. The team was in a comfortable position with 72/2 after 12 overs, while the win predictor favored 92% chances of success. The tables turned when Mohammad Rizwan after employing a defensive approach, decided to bat big and bold on the first delivery of Jasprit Bumrah (Indian fast bowler), thus sacrificing his wicket due to a miscalculation. The middle order, Iftikhar, and Shadab crumbled with Imad Wasim struggling against Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel, scoring a shameful 15 runs off 23 bowls.
The death overs were expertly utilized by India under Rohit Sharma further tightening the noose around Pakistan’s neck. Elaborate and structured cricket by India made a difference for them in the highly contested game.
Canada vs Pakistan – A Tournament for Survival
The Pakistani side managing the depressive episode from the previous two losses was given a thumbs up in the much-needed win against Canada in New York. Pakistani bowlers’ exceptional display limited Canada to a total of 106 for 7 wickets in 20 overs.
Despite the insufficient total, Aaron Johnson (Canadian batsman) played mighty by scoring 52 off 44 balls. Adding to this, the Pakistani opening partnership was shuffled again bringing in Saim Ayub to play with Rizwan, thus splitting the alliance with Babar. This was unrequited which later proved in with Saim’s wicket, but overall Rizwan did manage to take it through.
Nevertheless, there were still some flaws such as not availing the power play period to its maximum capacity (leaving it for late-order players to take the risk) which needed to be revised in the last game with Ireland.
Ireland vs Pakistan – A Futile Effort
Pakistan faced off against Ireland on 16th June 2024 in Florida. Pakistan won this match but at what cost? The team was still knocked off the tournament as USA and India’s match was abandoned due to rain which, if played and won by India, could’ve given Pakistan an edge but at last, they had to face their demons. Match analysis indicates the same fault lines in the team. The fast bowlers were exceptional in limiting the Irish side to a 107 but as always the batsmen failed to perform their tasks. The middle order i.e. Fakhar (5), Shadab (0), and Usman (2) crumbled, making the meager score seem unreachable, completing the run chase in the second last over. This noted an end to the World Cup campaign for Pakistan but an insight into a Pandora’s box itching to be unleashed.
Root Causes of the Downfall
Reviewing the posture of Pakistan in the World Cup, one thing is evident—the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is trying to eliminate the symptoms, rather than the root causes. Multiple reasons have contributed to the position of the Pakistan cricket team which are as follows;
- Inefficient Captaincy
Babar Azam has been revered as a consistent force in the cricketing world. His exemplary performance cemented his position as one of the best openers Pakistan could ever have in its cricketing history.
But, a good player is necessarily not a great captain. After all, the title of “King Babar” is not everlasting and can be dissolved easily. His leadership as of now is not hitting the spot—with near misses witnessed in ICC events such as the World Cup 2023. Historically speaking, Pakistan has fared well under aggressive and bold leadership which has not been the case with Babar who is risk-averse. Moreover, adding to the dilemma, he is a victim of board politics (captaincy issue with Shaheen Shah Afridi) leaving him troubled on the pitch.
- Administrative Instability – Internal Strife
The cricketing environment is in constant turbulence with changes in the management indirectly affecting the steady routine of the players. The arrival of Mohsin Naqvi (PCB chairman), did a number on PCT (Pakistan cricket team), as his limited foresight on cricket caused major upsets for the team in general.
Furthermore, factions have been formed at the board level which has transpired into a deep-seated resentment among key players. It has been said that Babar and Shaheen are not on good terms due to the captaincy dilemma. Such misconceptions significantly impact the overall performance of the team.
Subsequently, the appointment of Gary Kirsten (head coach) before the World Cup was not a wise decision. He had little time to acclimate with the team to foresee their blueprint ahead of the event.
- Inconsistent Players
Underperforming players such as Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed have done more harm than good to the team. It’s time that they say goodbye to cricket for good. Yet second chances have been a norm in this case which has undoubtedly wrecked the team performance. Rising talents and fresh faces are not given the chance despite repeated execution at domestic levels.
A Bottom-Up Approach
A thorough reassessment of the root causes above can help the team’s cause in the long run. The PCB under Mohsin Naqvi needs to make multifaceted changes to uproot the team from its current level.
The management along with the team needs to set their differences aside and focus on delivering performances. Overcoming these weaknesses would not be an easy feat but it is necessary for a major revamp of the organization. Taking a cue from other teams, the focus should be on the fitness of players so that they can give performances worth the global reputation. Moreover, underperforming players need to be eliminated and young talents like Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Abbas Afridi need to be given opportunities to showcase their skill sets.
Furthermore, political grievances and lobbying should be left aside from cricket. Ensuring such changes at the grassroots level will revitalize the team to its former glory days. The shocking exit is a punch to the gut, but a much-needed lesson for future discourse. After all, miracles by the cricketing Gods should not be the reason behind saving grace but the Pakistani team’s own performance.
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