Pakistan's campaign in the just-concluded Asia Cup 2023 was far from a fairy-tale. Led by the charismatic Babar Azam, the team faced setbacks as they couldn't progress to the final, following two crucial losses in the Super 4 stage. The defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka was a nail-biter, right down to the final ball. However, the loss against arch-rivals India was nothing short of a crushing defeat, with India emerging victorious by a colossal 228 runs. The glaring shortcomings in both the batting and bowling departments left fans and analysts worried about the Pakistan's prospects in the imminent ODI World Cup 2023.
Former Pakistan cricketer, Kamran Akmal, delved into this concern. Drawing attention to India's solid lineup, he remarked, “Mohammed Shami is on the bench, he doesn't play in this XI. That shows you it's a complete bowling unit. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma are in form, Shubman Gill scored a century recently, so it looks a solid batting unit."
He further emphasised the urgent need for Pakistan to recalibrate their strategies ahead of their critical match on October 14. He warned, "If they play with the same mentality as the Asia Cup, and the way we played for the past three years, they're going to get thrashed badly. They need to prepare really well.”
While Kamran Akmal highlighted the challenges Pakistan faces against a robust Indian side, cricket legends Javed Miandad and Misbah ul Haq voiced their defense for captain Babar Azam. They argued that the accountability for the team's performance shouldn't fall upon a single individual. During a media interaction, Miandad underscored the collective nature of the sport saying, "Why blame Babar Azam only when the rest of the team didn't perform as well in the Asia Cup matches against India and Sri Lanka."
Both Miandad and Misbah, having World Cup experiences in India under their belts, further advised the Pakistani squad to remain resilient and mentally strong. They believe that the psychological dimension is equally crucial. They cautioned against letting the prospect of playing the World Cup in India, with its roaring crowds and potentially hostile environment, impact the team's psyche. Miandad expressed optimism, emphasizing, "Look our team is not as bad as it played in the Asia Cup. It has plenty of potential to do well in the World Cup. Only thing is how quickly our players cope and adjust to playing in Indian conditions before big crowds and in a country where they will encounter some hostility."
Given this backdrop, the upcoming World Cup in India is not just a stage for cricketing excellence for Pakistan, but also an arena for showcasing resilience, adaptability, and team spirit. As ODI World Cup will kick off from October 5, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will clash against each other on October 14 in Ahmedabad.
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