Legendary pacer and key figure in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup win, Wasim Akram, criticized Pakistan’s “pathetic performance” against the USA, highlighting the early wickets as the turning point. In the T20 World Cup match, both teams scored 159, but the USA defended 18 runs in the Super Over to secure victory.
“Winning and losing is part of the game, but you need to fight till the last ball. It was a bad day for Pakistan cricket,” Akram told Star Sports. He believes Pakistan will struggle to make the Super Eight, facing tough matches against India, Ireland, and Canada. Akram noted Pakistan’s shaky start at 30 for three after the Power Play and praised the USA for their early wickets and solid fielding. He also pointed out Pakistan’s subpar fielding and overall performance. Despite confidence in Pakistan’s chances, Akram admitted conceding 18 runs in the Super Over dashed their hopes. He praised USA captain Monank Patel for his match-winning fifty and excellent leadership. “The way he batted and led from the front was impressive. USA’s fielding was spot-on, and their cricket was very impressive,” Akram added. Legendary pacer Wasim Akram, central to Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup victory, did not hold back in criticizing Pakistan’s performance against the USA in the T20 World Cup. He described the display as “pathetic” and identified the early wickets taken by the USA as the turning point of the game. The match saw both teams scoring 159 runs, leading to a Super Over where the USA successfully defended 18 runs to clinch a memorable victory.
“Winning and losing is part of the game, but you need to fight till the last ball. It was a bad day for Pakistan cricket,” Akram told Star Sports. He expressed concerns about Pakistan’s chances of progressing to the Super Eight, given their upcoming matches against strong teams like India, Ireland, and Canada. Pakistan’s struggle began early, with the team stuttering to 30 for three by the end of the Power Play. Despite a 72-run partnership between captain Babar Azam and Shadab Khan, the team failed to gain momentum. Akram criticized Pakistan’s subpar fielding and overall lackluster performance, emphasizing that the team’s cricket was average at best.
Akram, renowned for his expertise in death bowling, was particularly disappointed with Pakistan conceding 18 runs in the Super Over, which dashed their hopes of victory. He mentioned that there was general confidence among Pakistani supporters, given their strong first-innings performance, but the second innings fell short. He praised USA captain Monank Patel for his exceptional leadership and match-winning fifty. “The way he batted and led from the front was impressive. Their fielding was spot-on, and they played very impressive cricket,” Akram added. Akram’s critical assessment underscores the challenges facing Pakistan as they aim to recover and advance in the tournament.
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