NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram on Monday criticised Babar Azam's team for their meek surrender to Team India in a low-scoring, high-octane ICC T20 World Cup 2024 clash at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, defeated Pakistan by six runs in a tense encounter. With this win, Team India moved to the top of Group A.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first, where Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf picked up three wickets each. Rishabh Pant was India's top contributor with a quick knock of 42, but India ultimately bowled out for 119.
In response, Mohammad Rizwan set the platform for the chase with a patient knock of 31, but Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and were restricted to 113/7 in 20 overs. India's fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah made crucial dismissals, finishing with figures of 3-14.
1/9:T20 World Cup: Bumrah delivers as India beat Pakistan in low-scoring thriller
AFP
2/9:India beat Pakistan in New York
Jasprit Bumrah was the hero as India beat Pakistan by six runs in a low-scoring T20 World Cup thriller in New York on Sunday.AP
3/9:Bumrah's Heroics
India were bowled out by Pakistan for 119 in 19 overs. Defending the small total, Bumrah delivered crucial wickets and his 3-14 in four overs proved decisive as Pakistan fell just short ending on 113-7.ANI
4/9:Crowd Excitement
Despite a tricky batting surface that made batting difficult, a crowd of 34,028, a record attendance for an international cricket match in the USA, were given a tight contest that ebbed and flowed.AFP
5/9:Pakistan's Chase
Naseem Shah made a valiant effort, hitting the fourth and fifth balls of the last over for fours but India avoided any late drama to secure their second win of the tournament.ANI
6/9:Bumrah's Crucial Wickets
Bumrah picked up the vital wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam (13) and Mohammad Rizwan (31). Then, in the penultimate over, Bumrah conceded just three runs and removed Iftikhar Ahmed with his final ball.AP
7/9:Final Over Drama
<b>That left Pakistan needing 18 from the final over, a steep task on a difficult batting surface and it got more tricky when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Imad Wasim with the first ball.</b>AFP
8/9:Pakistan's Tough Loss
For Pakistan, their loss, coming after the shock defeat to the USA, leaves them without a point and with a lot of work to do against Canada and Ireland if they are to fight their way into the Super Eight stage.AP
9/9:Rain Interruption
Rain delayed the start of the game, played in front of a packed 34,000 fans, the majority of whom were backing tournament favourites India.AFPThe result keeps India on top of the Group A standings with two wins in two matches, while Pakistan have zero points after two defeats, following their upset by the hosts, the United States, in their first game.
Bashing Green Shirts' poor show against India, Akram said 'Pakistan doesn't need an enemy'.
"Pakistan ko dushman ki zarurat nahi hai, ye khudi bahut hain. Ab inke muh mein chusni daalenge kya hum. Ab inko batayenge situation awareness kya hai? Babar batayega, coach batayega. [Pakistan doesn't need an enemy, they have plenty themselves. Now should we put a pacifier in their mouths? Now we have to explain to them what situation awareness is? Babar will explain, the coach will explain]," an angry Akram said on Star Sports.
"Pichle 8-10 saal se khel rahe hain ye batsmen. Ab Rizwan ko mai bataunga ki main bowler aya hai ek over ke liye, wicket lene aaya hai. Aapne 10 over ke baad koi chauka nahi mara. Koshish bhi nahi ki. Toh 120 (target) bhi chase nahi hua. [These batsmen have been playing for the last 8-10 years. Now should I tell Rizwan that the main bowler has come for one over, to take a wicket? You didn't hit a boundary after 10 overs. Didn't even try. So even 120 couldn't be chased]" he said.
"Ab sharmindagi honi shuru ho gayi hai. As a Pakistani, I want to back the Pakistan team. Hadd hoti hai har cheez ki. [Now it has started to become embarrassing. As a Pakistani, I want to back the Pakistan team. But there's a limit to everything]", Akram said while slamming the Pakistan team.
Pakistan now need to beat Canada and Ireland by a big margin so that they can improve their net run rate.
Pakistan will qualify if India win their next two games against the USA and Canada, and the USA lose their remaining matches.
