World Cup 2019: Reports suggests rampant groupism in Pakistan team led by Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir

Looks like Pakistan’s loss to India has not gone down well with anyone in the team, with the performance being criticized right from the toss to the last ball. India, after being invited to bat first, put up 336/5 on the board. This left the Men in Green playing the catch-up game in which they failed badly and lost the match by 89 runs via DLS method.

All of the Pakistani media went deep into analyzing the heartbreaking defeat which was also the seventh straight loss to their arch-rivals in the World Cups. Most of the former players and media persons blamed the senior players of the team and the bowling attack. Moreover, Sarfaraz Ahmed‘s decision to bowl first after winning the toss has also come under the scanner.

However, something much more sinister has been reported by the media across the border, as it suggested that the team has been ripped into two groups with all-rounder Imad Wasim and fast bowler Mohammad Amir being the leaders. The players are reportedly not supporting the captain Sarfaraz Ahmed in his plans and execution of said plans on the field.

Sarfraz unhappy with Imad and Imam

Pakistani news channel Samaa was quoted as reporting that Sarfaraz Ahmed lost this cool in the dressing room after the loss and went on a tirade blaming a bunch of players for the demoralizing performance at the Old Trafford. He reportedly accused Imad Wasim and Imam-ul-Haq of not supporting him and forming a group against him. Imad and Mohammad Amir were the best bowlers for Men in Green as left-arm spinner went for just 49 runs in his 10 overs and the latter picked 3 wickets to save face for the team.

Even news channel Duniya reported something similar going on behind the scenes in Pakistan cricket and mentioned that one group is being led by Amir and other by Imad. These all unwanted matters have occupied captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and he is feeling let down. Such things are hampering the performance of the team and the spirit was missing on the field, which was noted by many experts and former players as per reports.

Though none of the players admitted to any of the groupings in the team when the news channel contacted them, many of them did confirm that Sarfaraz lost his cool. “But it was more out of frustration and I don’t recall him blaming anyone or talking about groupings in the team but he did say the players needed to give more,” one of the players said on condition of anonymity.