How to host a cricket event only to ghost the fans — team Pakistan’s learn or win (lose)

WEB DESK: Last Wednesday when Pakistan lost to New Zealand in the opening match for ICC Champions Trophy, the expectations from the host nation went down considerably down. Senior players like Yuvraj Singh picked Pakistan as favourites in the match against India on February 23 which India won by six wickets. Despite lowering their hopes Pakistani fans, addicted to the trauma and pain, showed up to support the green-shirts only to realise that the team will not have any remorse for disappointing them.

Not that it would help but staying true to his words, Captain Muhammad Rizwan’s learn hoga ya win hoga made a reappearance during the presser after the gruelling defeat. Rizwan admitted that the middle order failed under pressure leaving their knockout hopes in jeopardy. Pakistan managed to only make 241 in 49.4 overs, which India chased down comfortably, winning by six wickets with 45 balls to spare, powered by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century. “Our middle order wasn’t good enough,” Rizwan said post-match. “We aimed for 270-280, but the slow pitch and outfield made scoring difficult. Poor shot selection cost us.”

With Pakistan’s fate now depending on other results, Rizwan acknowledged their slim chances. “We’ll see what happens, but as a captain, I don’t like relying on other teams. If you’re good enough, you win and stay in control.” He admitted India and New Zealand simply played better. “If we get another chance, great—but we should have performed better.”

With so much learning and zero winning, team Pakistan can perhaps blame the hostile Dubai stadium crowd where Hindutva slogans were also raised openly. One of the Pakistani fans present yesterday said he was visibly uncomfortable because of the ‘fascist’ slogans being raised, questioning the sportsman spirit and the camaraderie for a game, which was supposed to be played in Pakistan if India had not refused from partaking.

Looking towards Bangladesh as they face New Zealand today in Rawalpindi, Pakistan is banking on the former’s win to have some chance to make it to the semis, but truth be told, given New Zealand’s performance this would be a long shot.

Pakistan fans look away from India Champions Trophy ‘humiliation’

Here is what X formerly Twitter said about the match between Pakistan and India:

After losing Fakhar Zaman to an injury in the first match, openers Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam were the pair the nation pinned their hopes to, but this described the inner thoughts:

The captain of course has to take the fall, which becomes more painful if you forget that you cannot play wrong shots and get away with it:

The passion for cricket is inherited, because why would anyone willingly choose a sports that destroys the mental health. But also it is worth pondering upon that why do we not invest in other sports for future generations?

The many faces of Mohsin Naqvi, who dabbles between Pakistan Cricket Board and the Ministry of Interior, should be recognised to understand that while renovating stadiums was much needed, the Board needs to empower players instead of tightening noose around the necks.

Team Pakistan believes all players should be given a chance to perform so no one is left behind even if it costs matches.

Of course the consolation thought would be the 2017 finals of the same tournament because isn’t this how one can reinvigorate hope?

The happiness that international cricket finally returned to Pakistan after 29 years has been marred by the pathetic performance of the national team and if Pakistan is swept away from the qualifiers today, it would be a good ‘learn’ for other teams to how not to host and ghost fans who breathe cricket.

Home crowd, home ground? Could Pakistan care less about cricket