Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup performance

Pakistan’s recent performance in the T20 World Cup stands as the worst in its history. Once champions and thrice finalists, the team failed to advance even to the second round, a stark contrast to their past successes, which include six semi-final appearances.

The loss in seemingly ‘won’ matches against the USA and India highlighted the frailty of Pakistan’s batting lineup. The disappointing show by top batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who together managed just 100 runs in four matches, set the tone for the team’s overall failure. Beyond them, no batsman managed to score fifty runs throughout the tournament.

Fakhar Zaman, a key player, accumulated only 33 runs across four matches. Iftikhar Ahmed, tasked with anchoring the middle order, managed a mere 23 runs in two matches, while Usman Khan’s total of 20 runs in four matches further illustrated the batting woes. Saim Ayub scored just 23 runs against Canada and Ireland, and Imad Wasim’s 19 runs in three matches did little to help the team’s cause. Shadab Khan, despite his all-rounder tag, could only muster 44 runs in four matches. Azam Khan, who was expected to be a game-changer, was dismissed for a golden duck against America.

Adding to the disarray, Pakistan’s highest number of sixes came from a bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi. Afridi, traditionally known for his bowling prowess, ended up being the third highest run-scorer for Pakistan, outperforming many specialist batsmen. This anomaly underscores the critical failure of the batting lineup, where key players failed to step up when it mattered most.

The team’s management and coaching staff must shoulder their share of the blame. The selection process, strategic planning, and on-field decisions all contributed to this debacle. It is imperative for Pakistan to reassess its approach, focusing on nurturing young talent and ensuring that players are selected and prepared based on merit and performance rather than reputation.

The fans, who have passionately supported the team through thick and thin, deserve better. This World Cup should serve as a catalyst for introspection and change within Pakistan cricket. The talent pool is there, but without strategic vision and effective management, the team will continue to underperform on the world stage.

It is time for Pakistan cricket to rebuild, learning from this experience to forge a stronger, more resilient team capable of reclaiming its place among the cricketing elite.