Pakistan's Asia Cup campaign came to a screeching halt after suffering a shocking two-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the crunch Super Four clash at the Premadasa stadium on Thursday, September 15. The world of cricket stood still when the hopes for widely anticipated India vs Pakistan final of the Asia Cup 2023 was dashed.
Playing what was dubbed the 'virtual semi-final,' rain interruptions saw Pakistan setting a rather achievable target of 252 runs in 42 overs. Fans had their hopes high, especially given the impeccable performance showcased by top-order batsmen like Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, and Fakhar Zaman. Yet, the stars of the day were Sri Lanka's middle-order batters, with Charith Asalanka's unbeaten 49 taking center stage in their nail-biting last-ball victory.
The intensity of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, which has graced the Asia Cup 15 times in the ODI format, was sorely missed. The earlier match of the tournament witnessed India registering an emphatic 228-run win over Pakistan at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Pakistan's batting seemed to collapse, barely managing to put up 128 runs against India's formidable target of 357. Kuldeep Yadav's bowling prowess, which resulted in him clinching five wickets, further deepened the wound.
Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, speaking candidly on his YouTube channel and as referenced by Crictracker, delved into the psyche of the Pakistani team post their significant loss to India. He expressed, "The massive defeat against India has given a psychological dent to Pakistan. They seemed to carry that loss in this match as well. They looked timid and scared and failed to close out the game. Babar Azam and top order looked over-cautious. They lacked authority."
Raja, who once headed the PCB, didn't stop at general team performance; he went on to highlight individual areas of concern. Criticizing Fakhar Zaman's current form, Raja commented, "Fakhar Zaman is a walking wicket nowadays. His body language is looking shocking." He further added that Zaman should possibly consider sidelining himself for a while. Not stopping there, he shed light on Babar Azam's captaincy, stating, "On a slower track, Babar has struggled, barring one or two innings. He needs to step up as captain as well. He should take authoritative decisions."
As the dust settles on Asia Cup 2023, Ramiz Raja's insights stand as a testament to the psychological dynamics cricket teams face, especially after significant losses.
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