‘Agar woh hota toh…’ – Former Pakistan cricketer reveals reason behind Paksitan’s back-to-back losses at 20-20 World Cup 2022
Pakistan’s woes continue in the 20-20 World Cup as they lost to Zimbabwe in a one-run thriller. This is the second match that Pakistan lost in the 20-20 World Cup. After losing the match against India by four wickets and now because of this result. Their qualification chances hang by a thread at present.
It was another middle-order collapse that cost Pakistan against Zimbabwe. Before the 20-20, World Cup began there were calls to include Shoaib Malik to help Pakistan’s brittle middle order. But this did not transpire. Now Aaqib Javed has had a say on the matter.
Here is what he said, “Agar Malik iss team me hota.. vo sabse zyada fit hai, aur sabse zyada usko game-awareness hain. Ye dono match ham jeet jaate,” Aaqib said on Geo News. “ If Shoaib Malik was in the side then Pakistan would have won their matches against India and Zimbabwe.
The comment came from the former fast bowler after Imad Wasim spoke about the need to give more importance to game awareness over fitness. This statement was also acknowledged by the wicketkeeper batter Moeen Khan.
Pakistan’s middle order capsized again as barring Shaan Masood who scored 44 off 38 balls with three boundaries no other batter could convert their start into a big score. Malik could not play for the Pakistan T20 side this year after being part of the 2021 20-20 World Cup campaign.
Pakistan despite keeping Zimbabwe down to a low total of 130-8 in their 20 overs could not chase down the score as the Zimbabwean bowlers made better use of the bounce which was on offer at Perth which always rendered assistance to the bowlers.
The early dismissal of the top-order batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan put pressure on the fragile middle order. They could not complete the chase and missed the target by a whisker. Pakistan are yet to open their account and are only ahead of the Netherlands due to a superior run rate.
