Cricketlive: ‘Hurt’ Babar Azam blames bowling, fielding for shocking loss in PAK vs AFG Cricket World Cup

'Hurt' Babar Azam blames bowling, fielding for shocking loss in PAK vs AFG (Pakistan vs Afghanistan) Cricket World Cup game

Pakistan Cricket Team are in a downward spiral. After losing to India, Babar Azam & Co have extended that losing streak with a shocking loss to Afghanistan. Pakistan could only manage to take two wickets in the PAK vs AFG Cricket World Cup games. And now, their fate of making to the semifinal hangs in balance. Pakistan captain blamed poor bowling and fielding for the shocking loss.

“This hurts us. We had a good total. In the bowling, we weren’t up to the mark as we are not taking wickets in the middle overs. If you are not good in even one department, then you’ll lose the game. We didn’t stop boundaries and gave away runs, that cost us,” Babar Azam said after the PAK vs AFG game.

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Opting to bat, Pakistan put up a 283-run total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. While the total should have been enough, Pakistan made a mess in the field as well as bowling.

There were misfields from Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and many others. Throws were not even close to the stumps as overthrows cost Pakistan as well.

There was a drop in attitude and body language, clearly visible. Babar Azam looked frustrated and shouted at his teammates often.

“We started well in bowling, in the middle overs, we needed wickets but we couldn’t take any. All credit to Afghanistan the way they played in all three departments. That’s why they won. We are not playing good cricket in bowling and fielding. We’ll try our best in the next match. We didn’t hit the lengths in the middle overs, especially our spinners,” Babar Azam added.

Now, with just four games left, it gets difficult for Pakistan to qualify for semifinals. They will take on high-flying South Africa next. And then Babar Azam & Co will face Bangladesh, New Zealand and England, all four tough games. With just four points in five games, Pakistan will now need to win all four.