SA vs PAK: In an unprecedented turn of events at the World Cup, the Pakistan cricket team faced four back-to-back losses. While the first three were disheartening, their loss against South Africa despite a valiant effort was the tipping point. And this defeat led the team’s captain, Babar Azam, to express his deep disappointment and frustration.
Unprecedented Series of Losses:
Pakistan’s performance in the World Cup had always been unpredictable, but they had never faced a streak of four losses in a row before this tournament. Their recent defeat to South Africa, though they competed fiercely, added to the growing agony.
Scoreboard Pressure:
SA vs PAK: Setting up a total, Pakistan managed to put up 270 runs. But the South African side, showcasing their batting prowess, chased down the target, losing only 9 wickets in the process.
Azam’s Disappointment:
Post the match, a visibly disheartened Babar Azam conveyed his sentiments. He lamented, “We came so close, yet the end wasn’t in our favor. It’s a huge letdown for the entire squad. We contended earnestly but fell short by about 10-15 runs. Our bowlers, both pace and spin, put up a strong fight, yet the win eluded us.”
Bowlers’ Valiant Effort:
SA vs PAK: Pakistani pacers rose to the occasion with Shaheen Shah Afridi bagging 3 wickets and both Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim securing 2 wickets each.
A Controversial Decision:
As the match reached its climax, a potential game-changing moment was witnessed. With South Africa down to their last batsman, Tabrez Shamsi faced a ball from Haris Rauf which seemed to have hit the pad straight on. Though the umpire remained unmoved, the subsequent DRS showed it to be a clear out. Commenting on this, Babar Azam, trying to maintain his composure, remarked, “Such decisions are part of the game. DRS has its own challenges. Had it been given in our favor, things might have been different. But now, all we can do is to give our best in the remaining matches and hope for the best outcome for Pakistan.”
It remains to be seen how Pakistan will approach the remainder of the tournament, but Babar’s words resonated with the anguish of a leader who had expected more from this World Cup journey.
Image Credit – aljazeera