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The Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team has had a mixed run in the ODI World Cup 2023, securing two wins and suffering two losses so far. As they gear up for their upcoming match against Afghanistan, cricketer-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja took the opportunity to express his views on their recent performances.
Ramiz Raja shares a strong warning to Pakistan for the Afghanistan clash
Looking ahead to Pakistan’s next fixture against Afghanistan in Chennai on October 23, Raja emphasized the difficulty of the upcoming challenge. He warned that the Afghan side would not be an easy opponent, suggesting a tough battle lay ahead for Pakistan.
“Once you lose the momentum, it is difficult to get it back and win. The next match is against Afghanistan in Chennai, which will not be an easy match as Pakistan’s batters don’t play spin that well,” Ramiz was quoted as saying to Star Sports.
Also READ: World Cup 2023: Babar Azam describes what went wrong for Pakistan after their defeat against Australia in Bengaluru
Analysis of Pakistan’s loss to Australia
Raja didn’t hold back when dissecting Pakistan’s recent defeat against Australia. He directed criticism towards Pakistan’s fielding, identifying it as a key factor behind their loss. Additionally, he expressed disappointment with Pakistan’s batting performance, particularly their inability to post substantial scores.
“I have never seen anyone giving such a massive punishment for a dropped catch. A lot of catches are dropped but I have never seen anyone scoring 150-160. So it is a wake-up call for Pakistan that you will keep getting punished until you hold catches,” the 61-year-old added.
“Pakistan freeze whenever they get a slightly stiff opposition. The World Cup campaign suffers a setback like this. If you don’t win, you forget how to win. Australia showed how you can bat on a good pitch. 60s and 70s look good but you don’t win the match with that, I am talking about Pakistan,” the Faisalabad -born cricketer concluded.
The Australia match: Fielding woes and batting struggles
During their clash with Australia, the Aussies set Pakistan a formidable target of 368 runs. Pakistan’s fielding struggles were evident and these issues were capitalized upon by the Australian team. In reply, Pakistan’s batting lineup couldn’t quite meet the challenge, ultimately being bowled out for 305, leading to a 62-run loss. The bowler Adam Zampa played a significant role, finishing with figures of 4/53 in his 10 overs.
