Pakistan’s performance in the ICC World Cup 2023 has been a topic of intense discussion among cricket enthusiasts. The team suffered three consecutive defeats, which has raised questions about the team’s strategy, leadership, and overall performance. Chief selector and captain are responsible for Pakistan’s defeat.
They have a poor team selection and the squad was not up to the mark. Sarfraz Ahmad has been a successful captain for Pakistan and under his captaincy Pakistan wins so many series and Champions Trophy final in 2017. However, he was not selected despite giving good performance in domestic.
Imad Wasim is an all-rounder but he was also not selected for unknown reasons. Mohammad Hafeez stepped down from his position on the PCB’s cricket technical committee following a meeting that evaluated Pakistan’s performance in the Asia Cup.
The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, disclosed that both Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq, another member of the Technical Committee, advocated for several changes to the team for the World Cup due to the team’s subpar performance in Asia Cup 2023. However, their suggestions were not supported by captain Babar Azam and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.
The Consecutive Defeats
The last defeats began with a match against Afghanistan, where Pakistan scored 282 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs. However, Afghanistan managed to score 286 runs for 2 wickets in 49 overs, resulting in an 8-wicket victory for Afghanistan. This was followed by losses to Australia and India.
Who is Responsible?
Captain Babar Azam, the captain of the team, has been under scrutiny due to his performance during the tournament. Despite being ranked as one of the world’s best in ODIs, Babar Azam’s scores in the World Cup have been underwhelming. His dismissals at crucial moments have been a point of concern. Babar Azam scored a total of 157 runs in the first 5 matches of the ICC Men’s 50 Overs World Cup 2023 with an average of 31.40. Babar Azam is very under pressure due to his captaincy and slow batting.
Team Management
The team management has also been questioned for their strategies and decisions during the tournament. The management includes
team manager Rehan-ul-Haq, Director Mickey Arthur, head coach Grant Bradburn, batting coach Andrew Puttick, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and others. Grant Bradburn, the head coach of the team, has also faced criticism. Despite his experience and previous success with the team, Pakistan’s performance in this World Cup has raised questions about his strategies and coaching methods.
Players Performance
The players themselves have also been scrutinized. Their performance on the field, both individually and as a team, has not met expectations. The bowling attack has been criticized for its lack of impact, and the batting line-up has struggled to chase high targets. The fielding is as usual poor and we have seen in Australia match and also in Afghanistan match. No intent was shown by the Pakistani fielders. Too many catches were dropped by them for no reason. Our number 1 bowline was failed miserably. Haris was hit by Afghanistan for 17 runs in over. Australian batter scored 24 runs in over including massive six hit by David Warner. Shaheen bowling is also not up to the mark. Hassan Ali as usual bowls wide deliveries.
How to Do Better?
Improving performance requires a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of the game.
Strategy: The team needs to reassess its game strategy. This includes analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents and making tactical decisions accordingly.
Leadership: Babar Azam could benefit from leadership training to enhance his decision-making skills in the field. Babar should leave captaincy and concentrate on his batting.
Coaching: The coaching staff should work closely with the players to improve their skills and address any technical issues. Pakistan should hire a new batting, bowling coach including the fielding coach.
Player Performance: Individual players should focus on improving their personal performance through rigorous training and practice. Bring Sarfraz, Imad, and other players back and rest the current squad.
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