Pakistan cricket team have their backs against the wall after the first five matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 with just 4 points to their name. Babar Azam’s side had begun the tournament on a bright note with a couple of wins over Netherlands and Sri Lanka but since then have lost three matches in a row to India, Australia and now Afghanistan.
With 4 more matches remaining against New Zealand, South Africa, England and Bangladesh, Pakistan need to win all of those matches to remain in contention for a berth in the semifinal stage. Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar in an exclusive interaction with Zee News believes the Pakistan team will need to generate the spirit of 1992 World Cup which they won down under if they home to make it to the last four stage.
“I knew the potential of Pakistan before the World Cup, I knew unhone dil-gurda dikhana nahi hai. In 1992 World Cup, it was the same situation. It is a matter of pride and we have to tolerate this. Can Babar Azam be Imran Khan, can Shaheen Shah Afridi be Wasim Akram, can Haris Rauf be Aaqib Javed? To answer these questions, the Pakistan team have to sit together. They need to answer the question if we can repeat what we managed to do in 1992 World Cup,” Shoaib Akhtar told Zee News.
Pakistan’s only ODI World Cup title came in 1992 under the captaincy of former all-rounder and Pakistam Prime Minister Imran Khan. After the first five matches of the 1992 World Cup, Pakistan team just had 3 points with 2 of them coming from a win over lowly Zimbabwe. They had lost to West Indies, India and South Africa and just avoided defeat to England after getting bowled out for 74 thanks to rain.
But they rallied to make the semifinals after that – pipping hosts Australia, who had 8 points to Pakistan’s 9 points after the league stages. Imran Khan’s side then defeated favourites New Zealand and England in the semifinal and final to create history.
“Only Babar Azam can save Pakistan, he needs to get his strike-rate up to 120 first. Babar has to give belief system that Pakistan have four matches left and they need to win all of them,” Akhtar said about Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
‘Pakistan should have mar sakte hain yaa maar sakte hain spirit’
After the shock loss, it has not come down to ‘do-or-die’ situation for Pakistan. Akhtar believes the team should now play with ‘mar sakte hain yaa maar sakte hain’ spirit.
“I am not giving up on Pakistan. I can criticize and write off Pakistan. If I was the coach, only 4 matches left – ab hum mar sakte hain yaa maar sakte hain. We are at our best when hum ‘maarte hain’,” Akhtar said.
The 48-year-old former pacer believes lack of ODI and first-class cricket is hurting the Pakistan pace bowling attack. Haris Rauf has only played in 33 ODIs and 9 first-class matches till date while Shaheen Shah Afridi has played in only 49 ODIs and 36 first-class matches.
“Pakistan fast bowlers are slowly getting getting used to ODI cricket. They need to play more ODI and first-class cricket. They need to bowl 300-400 overs in a year to be ready for ODI cricket,” Akhtar said about the Pakistan pace bowling attack.
‘Is he Mickey Arthur or Tom Cruise?’
Akhtar was also irate at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for bringing over Mickey Arthur at all cost and also slammed the PCB selection committee and PCB technical committee led by former captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
“It was personal choice of Najam Sethi to bring over Mickey Arthur at any cost. Is he Mickey Arthur or Tom Cruise? Nobody is talking about selection committee, technical committee run by Misbah or Pakistan management. Everyone is cursing Babar Azam,” Akhtar said.
“If I was there, I would have put my life on the line. There are four matches remaining – New Zealand, South Africa, England and Bangladesh. You have to show anger. Australia and South Africa are stuck, England have not qualified,” Akhtar added.
