The future of Pakistan in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 is in danger. Pakistan faced a historic defeat in a significant match against Afghanistan, losing by eight wickets. This was the first time Pakistan lost to Afghanistan in a 50-over game. Led by captain Babar Azam, Pakistan scored 282-7, with contributions from Babar Azam (74) and opening batter Abdullah Shafique (52), scoring half-centuries. Vice Captain Shadab Khan and batting all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed also made useful contributions with 40 runs each.
Future of Pakistan in ICC Men’s World Cup 2023
Afghanistan successfully chased down the target in 49 overs, with Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah (77), and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) all making half-centuries. Former cricketer Azhar Ali expressed concerns about Pakistan’s strategy, suggesting that if the cricket board allows fast bowlers to participate in franchise cricket, it could hinder Pakistan’s ability to win matches.
He pointed out that the fast bowlers struggled, especially when the spin department was not performing well. He questioned the value of having a high-quality bowling attack if they couldn’t dismiss a few Afghanistan batters. Azhar Ali believed that the team would continue to struggle if they allowed their top bowlers to participate in overseas league competitions.
