'Pathetic performance' - Wasim Akram lashes out at Pakistan team after poor show against USA in T20 World Cup

Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has heavily criticized his country's national team for their shocking loss in their opening game of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against the United States of America on Thursday, June 06. The USA defeated Pakistan in a Super Over after the scores were tied at 159 runs each in regulation time.

Akram, who was part of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning team, lashed the team's performance. He felt that the turning point of the game was the USA taking early wickets, with Pakistan struggling at 30/3 at the end of the powerplay. Despite a 72-run partnership between Babar Azam and Shadab Khan, Pakistan failed to capitalize on the momentum.

"Pathetic performance. Winning and losing is a part of the game. But you need to fight till the last ball. It was a bad for Pakistan cricket," Akram told Star Sports.

The legendary pacer also criticized Pakistan's fielding. He praised the USA captain Monank Patel for his match-winning fifty and for using his bowling resources effectively. Akram highlighted the USA's impressive fielding display, which played a crucial role in their victory.

"The turning point of the game...the way USA got early wickets. Pakistan had a little partnership between Babar and Shadab and then nobody turned up. The fielding was below average, the overall cricket by Pakistan was average. While playing against the USA, I was confident, every Pakistan supporter was confident that they will win after the way they played in the first innings" he said.

"In the second innings, they (USA) came out to chase. Well done USA. The moment of the day for me was the innings of USA captain Monank Patel, the way he batted, carried his bat. The way he used his suit as in he led from the front. Their fielding was spot-on every time, and very impressive cricket from the USA," he added.

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Pakistan will struggle from here onwards to qualify for the Super Eight: Wasim Akram

Akram believes that Pakistan will struggle to qualify for the Super Eight stage of the tournament, with tough matches against India, Ireland, and Canada coming up. He emphasized that conceding 18 runs in the Super Over dashed Pakistan's hopes of winning the game.

"Pakistan will struggle from here onwards to qualify for the Super Eight because they have to play India (on June 9) and two more good teams (Ireland and Canada). I mean getting 19 runs in the Super Over is like getting 36 runs in a Super Over," he concluded.

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The Monank Patel-led side registered their second win in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The debutants put on an impressive display of bowling and fielding, restricting Pakistan to 159/7 in their 20 overs. In reply, the USA rode on a crucial 50 off 38 balls from skipper Patel to level the scores and force a Super Over.

Mohammad Amir was given the responsibility to bowl the Super Over, but the veteran conceded 18 runs against Aaron Jones and Harmeet Singh. For the USA, it was Saurabh Netravalkar who held his nerves in the crunch situation and helped his side defend the total.