In a surprising turn of events at the World Cup, Pakistan’s cricket team suffered an eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan, a defeat that leaves their semifinal aspirations in jeopardy. Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, expressed his team’s disappointment but also remained hopeful about their chances in the tournament.
Afghanistan recorded their first-ever one-day victory against Pakistan in eight attempts by successfully chasing down a target of 283 runs with an over to spare. The opening partnership of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, scoring 87 and 65 runs respectively, provided a solid foundation, putting up 130 runs for the first wicket. Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi’s performances further ensured Afghanistan’s victory.
Babar Azam, reflecting on the loss, stated, “We are hurt as a team,” acknowledging that Pakistan had three defeats and two wins in five matches so far. Their next match is against South Africa, a formidable opponent.
Azam emphasized the need to learn from this defeat, mentioning that while their batting was up to the mark, their bowling and fielding let them down. Afghanistan’s spinners, including 18-year-old Noor Ahmad, played a significant role in their victory. Azam acknowledged the quality of Afghanistan’s spinners and mentioned that Pakistan fell short by 10-15 runs.
Despite this setback, Azam remains optimistic about Pakistan’s chances to qualify for the semifinals, stressing the need to excel in all departments and overcome mistakes. He noted that the absence of fast bowler Naseem Shah, due to a shoulder injury, has been felt by the team but believes that their overall bowling performance needs improvement.
Azam urged his team to focus on the positives, adopt a different mindset, and execute their plans effectively to secure a spot in the semifinals. Pakistan’s World Cup journey continues, and they remain determined to make a comeback.