England legend and former skipper Michael Vaughan couldn't resist taking a dig at the series of controversy that seems to mar Pakistan's World Cup campaign. The ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 has been no different for Pakistan, with their journey being anything but smooth.
Starting on a strong note, Pakistan defeated Netherlands and Sri Lanka. But their momentum took a drastic turn as they succumbed to four consecutive defeats. This series of losses was punctuated by a nightmarish thumping against Afghanistan - a first in Pakistan's ODI history.
Off the field also, the atmosphere has been tumultuous for Pakistan. Gossip about discord among players and management swirled through the cricketing world. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf giving the cold shoulder to calls and messages from Babar Azam also became the talk of the town. The pot of controversies kept stirring as Inzamam-ul-Haq, the chief selector, announced his resignation from the top post in middle of the tournament.
Meanwhile, batting legend Vaughan took to a recent podcast episode where he quipped that Pakistan's cricket team should deliberately court controversy right before the World Cup as a strategy to win.
“It’s all kicking off in Pakistan. If you go through the history of the World Cup, the World Cup does not start until this controversy with Pakistan. I don’t understand with Pakistan. Why don’t they just sack everyone the day before the tournament starts? They will win every World Cup. What are you waiting for,” Vaughan mused.
Vaughan even took to social media, posting a clip from the podcast to his Twitter account, humorously expressing his concerns for the team’s next game due to the recent lack of drama, "I worry about Pakistan tomorrow .. it’s been too calm this last couple of days .. they need someone to resign today or leak a WhatsApp message,” he tweeted.
Despite the string of losses and the cacophony of controversies, Pakistan managed to pull back with a much-needed win against Bangladesh. This victory kept their razor-thin semifinal hopes alive. As they sit with six points after seven matches, all eyes are now on their next encounter with New Zealand, set for November 4.
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