Legendary pacer Wasim Akram criticized Pakistan for their “pathetic performance” against the USA during the Super Over defeat and said it will be difficult for Babar Azam’s team to progress to the T20 World Cup qualifiers. Pakistan and USA scored 159 each in regulation time before the latter successfully defended 18 runs in the Super Over to record a famous victory here on Thursday. “Pathetic performance. Winning and losing are part of the game. But you have to fight until the last ball. It was bad for Pakistan cricket,” Akram told Star Sports.
“Pakistan will find it difficult from now on to qualify for the Super Eight because they will have to face India (on June 9) and two other good teams (Ireland and Canada),” he added.
The lynchpin of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph felt the turning point of the game was the USA taking early wickets.
Pakistan stuttered to 30 for three at the end of the Power Play and thereafter struggled to gain momentum despite captain Babar and Shadab Khan adding 72 runs for the fourth wicket.
“The turning point of the game… the way the US got early wickets. Pakistan had a little partnership between Babar and Shadab and then no one came. Fielding was below average, Pakistan’s overall cricket was average” , he said.
Akram, a master of death bowling in his playing days, said conceding 18 runs in the Super Over dashed Pakistan’s hopes.
“Playing against the USA, I was confident, all the Pakistan fans were confident that they would win after the way they played in the first innings.
“In the second innings, they (USA) came out to chase… I mean, getting 19 runs in a Super Over is like getting 36 runs in a Super Over. Well done, USA,” he said.
Akram praised US captain Monank Patel for organizing his bowling resources and making a match-winning fifty.
“The moment of the day for me was US captain Monank Patel’s innings, the way he batted…carried his bat.
“The way he wore his suit, he led from the front. Their fielding was always spot on and USA cricket was very impressive,” he added.
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