Former Pakistani cricketer, Ramiz Raja, expressed his disappointment over Pakistan’s inability to match up to India in their much-awaited encounter. He voiced his concerns about the potential impact of this defeat on Pakistan’s prospects in the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Unexpected Collapse of Pakistan’s Innings
Despite a promising start with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan steering Pakistan to 155/2, the team experienced a shocking collapse, ending their innings at 191 all out.
India’s Dominant Victory
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma led the charge with a score of 86, helping India effortlessly overcome Pakistan’s total and secure a resounding victory with nearly 20 overs to spare.
Ramiz Raja’s Disappointment
In the latest episode of The ICC Review podcast, Ramiz Raja expressed his disappointment, stating, “This should hurt Pakistan because they weren’t able to compete.” He acknowledged the pressure of playing against India but emphasized the need for the team to step up, especially given Babar Azam’s leadership over the past few years.
Pakistan’s Performance in the World Cup
Despite impressive victories against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in their initial World Cup matches, Pakistan’s poor performance against India continues their losing streak in all eight World Cup encounters since their first tournament clash in 1992.
Overcoming the Mental Block
Ramiz Raja believes that Pakistan’s dismal record against India is a significant mental and skill block. He commended India for consistently maintaining their dominance in World Cup matches against Pakistan, despite the emotional and expectation pressures.
Pakistan’s Position in the World Cup Standings
Despite the defeat, Pakistan’s early victories place them in a favorable position in the World Cup standings. They aim for a top-four finish to secure a semi-final spot. However, they face a high-stakes match against Australia on 20th Australia, leaving little room for errors in their remaining six matches.
Learning from Defeat
Ramiz Raja highlighted the need for Pakistan to learn from their defeat and refocus on their upcoming matches. He emphasized the need for honesty in team meetings and a reevaluation of their strategies, particularly in their spin bowling and batting performance.