Pakistan is in shock after their World Cup loss to Afghanistan. Even though Pakistan lost to Afghanistan by an eight-wicket thrashing, their campaign is still hanging by a thread. The previous champions of the 50-over competition suffered their third straight setback, including losses to India and Australia.
In Chennai on Monday, Pakistan suffered their first ever ODI loss to their neighbour when players like Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Ibrahim Zadran each hit fifty-plus runs to help their teams successfully chase down 283 runs with one over remaining. After the unexpected defeat, veterans and industry insiders attacked Babar Azam, the youthful player who had knocked down a fierce half-century throughout the match, for his captaincy. But according to former Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Yousuf, the captain was upset following the hat-trick of defeats and there were even reports that he was seen sobbing.
"I saw the press conference, and I also noted that he appeared upset the other day. It has been reported that Babar shed tears following the loss to Afghanistan. Not only is Babar to blame for the squad's loss, but the management and the entire team are also at fault. We support Babar during this trying time, and the entire nation is behind him," Yousuf said on Samaa TV while describing the scene in Pakistan's dressing room.
*'We are waiting for miracles'
The legendary Pakistani player Shahid Afridi, who was a member of the same panel, lashed out at Babar's World Cup leadership as he was explaining how setting little examples as a captain oneself can boost the team's morale and affect performance as a whole.
"These things [fielding problems] will arise when you are not in the game [not engaged]. We sometimes wait for miracles, but they don't simply come when you are trying to hide somewhere or not thinking positively, in my opinion. They occur with courageous folks who are skilled fighters," Afridi remarked.
The 46-year-old then used Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq as examples, drawing on his own experience as a skipper.
"It has occurred before, when Mohammad Yousuf or I were captains. After we ran in the ground to help players, the whole team would surge up. Believe me when I say that when Inzamam would dive on the pitch, we players used to feel guilty for not diving together with the captain. Everything ultimately comes down to the captain," he said.
With four league games left, Pakistan still has a chance to salvage their World Cup campaign. They can aim for a semifinal qualifying spot if they win all four.
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