In Monday’s World Cup match, Captain Babar Azam expressed his disappointment over Pakistan’s inability to apply pressure on Afghanistan with spin, which led to an eight-wicket loss.
The spinners from Pakistan could not secure any wickets during their combined 21 overs, conceding 6.23 runs per over in Chennai. Afghanistan comfortably chased down the target of 283 runs with eight wickets in hand, marking their first-ever victory over Pakistan in eight One Day International (ODI) matches.
Pakistan has faced a challenging stretch in which their spinners have managed to claim only one wicket in their last three matches, all of which the 1992 champions lost, ultimately landing them in fifth place.
Babar Azam expressed his disappointment, stating, “In the middle overs, the spinners didn’t bowl as they should have. They didn’t put pressure on (the opponents).”
He further noted the challenging pitch conditions, saying, “When we came here, I saw that the margin of error is very low for bowlers. If you bowl a little bit away from the wicket, you will get hit on that ball. So, we are lacking there a little bit.”
In contrast, Afghan spinners were highly effective, delivering a combined 38 overs and capturing four crucial wickets with an impressive economy rate of 4.63. Their use of spin has been one of the most effective in World Cup history, taking advantage of favorable pitch conditions.
Afghanistan’s 18-year-old spinner, Noor Ahmad, played a significant role in his World Cup debut, taking three major wickets while conceding just 49 runs in his 10 overs. Jonathan Trott, Afghanistan’s coach, praised Ahmad, highlighting his ability to spin the ball effectively.
The Afghan spinners’ prowess was also evident in their previous shocking 69-run win over defending champions England, where they took eight wickets, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan both claiming three each.
Babar Azam remains hopeful, saying, “You never know. It’s cricket. Anything can happen. We will try to play our best cricket till the end and try to overcome our mistakes.”
Pakistan is set to face South Africa in their next match, staying in Chennai, while Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka in Pune.
Historic Win Inspires Afghan Cricket
Jonathan Trott, the coach of Afghanistan, believes that their historic victory over Pakistan will have a profound impact on Afghan cricket and inspire future generations of players.
Trott expressed, “This will have a great ripple effect. I want to make sure that (the players)… pass it on and remember that game in Chennai when we chased down 283 against Pakistan.”
Trott identified the 130-run opening partnership between Rehmanullah Gurbaz (65) and Ibrahim Zadran (87) as a turning point in the game. He also praised Rahmat Shah, who played through cramps to steady the innings after the openers departed.
Trott added, “You could easily… get a bit nervous or panicky… but the shot that he played there to hit a straight six sort of broke the back of the game.”
He encouraged the players to enjoy the victory but also to maintain their focus and confidence as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in their next match.
