Pakistan has faced its third consecutive defeat in the 2023 World Cup. What makes this loss even more painful is that it marks their first-ever One Day International (ODI) cricket loss to Afghanistan. Pakistan, known for its formidable spin attack, found itself outperformed in the batting department by Afghanistan in Chennai. The Afghans successfully chased down a challenging target of 283 runs with eight wickets in hand and an over to spare, leaving both Pakistan and its fans in sheer disbelief.
This defeat has dealt a severe blow to Pakistan’s hopes of making it to the tournament’s semifinals. Led by the immensely talented Babar Azam, Pakistan entered the competition with high expectations and was considered a strong contender for a spot in the final four. However, after five matches, they now find themselves in fifth place on the table with just four points and a concerning net run rate of -0.400.
Currently, Pakistan is tied on points with fourth-placed Australia, and their situation could further deteriorate as Australia still has one game in hand. If Australia manages to secure a victory against the Netherlands in their upcoming match, it will widen the gap between the two teams. Additionally, Pakistan is already trailing third-placed India by two points and a significant four points behind the tournament leaders, India. It’s crucial to note that this string of losses started with a defeat at the hands of India.
Pakistan’s journey began on a high note, with wins in their initial matches, even setting a record for their highest successful run chase against Sri Lanka. However, the story took a dramatic turn with a seven-wicket loss to India. Subsequently, they faced a 62-run defeat at the hands of Australia before the shocking loss to Afghanistan.
The match against India also sparked controversy off the field. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the chants from home fans directed at the Pakistani players. Furthermore, the head coach of the Pakistan team, Mickey Arthur, made headlines with his comments, suggesting that the tournament felt more like a “BCCI event” than an ICC competition, drawing criticism from various quarters.
Michael Vaughan Roasted Pakistan Cricket Team After Their Defeat Against Afghanistan
On Monday, former England captain Michael Vaughan subtly mocked Arthur’s statement, highlighting the difference in the atmosphere during the match against Afghanistan. “I presume ‘Dil Dil’ Pakistan wasn’t played in Chennai today,” he quipped on the social media website X.
I presume ‘Dil Dil’ Pakistan wasn’t played in Chennai today @clubprairiefire #CWC2023 😜
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 23, 2023
In the match against Afghanistan, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, won the toss and chose to bat first at Chepauk. Babar contributed 74 runs off 92 balls, and Abdullah Shafique added 58 off 75 balls, helping Pakistan reach a total of 282/7. Notably, young Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad shone as he took three crucial wickets while conceding 49 runs, achieving his career-best figures.
While Afghanistan’s chase seemed daunting, it was a combination of their clinical batting and Pakistan’s fielding mistakes that allowed the Afghan team to maintain control throughout most of the match. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) and Ibrahim Zadran (87) put up an impressive 130-run partnership for the first wicket. Later, Rahmat Shah (77*) and captain Shahidi (48*) combined their efforts to secure Afghanistan’s eight-wicket victory over Pakistan.
