Pakistan assessing bench strength far too late for World Cup: Shoaib Akhtar

It was not long ago that defending champions Australia were being looked down upon as a side incapable of replicating their past feats in the World Cup. The five-time champions were beaten by various opponents – at home and abroad – and not many were ready to give them a chance in their defence campaign in the upcoming WC in England and Wales.

However, Aaron Finch’s side has turned the tables around in the last month or so. After losing the home series in Tests and ODIs, they reached India for a reciprocal tour and won both the T20I and ODI series – the second one more dramatically as they lost the first two games in a five-match series but went on to win the last three to pocket the series.

Australia then reached the UAE to play Pakistan in a five-match series and won it straight by winning the first three games. The two sudden back-to-back series wins make Australia look a stronger side in the World Cup.

On Wednesday, Australia produced a superb display to beat Pakistan by 80 runs to go 3-0 up in the series and the result has left the Pakistani fans and experts disappointed. Former speedster Shoaib Akhtar was also dejected by the loss and tweeted saying Pakistan took a wrong step in assessing its bench strength just months ahead of the World Cup.

He said the team needs to get its focus back before the mega tournament where the Men in Green will be trying to win their second world title after 1992, won under the captaincy of their current prime minister, Imran Khan.

Here is Shoaib Akhtar’s tweet:

Disappointed by Pakistan's performance against Australia. It was too close to the World Cup to check bench strength.
Team needs to get their focus back before the World Cup.

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) March 28, 2019

Pakistan have rested a number of key players for Aus series

Pakistan have rested six key players for the series against Australia including regular captain Sarfraz Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and others. Even PM Khan was not happy with the team selection and reportedly told Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani to put a proper selection procedure in place. Batting all-rounder Shoaib Malik is leading Pakistan in the series which is their penultimate international series before the WC.

Pakistan will play their first game in the World Cup against the Windies on May 31.

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