The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a statement on Thursday, calling for the support of cricket fans in the wake of three consecutive losses in the World Cup.
Pakistan faced defeat in three consecutive World Cup matches against India, Australia, and Afghanistan after claiming victories in their initial two matches against Sri Lanka and Netherlands. This series of losses has dropped them to the fifth position in the World Cup standings.
The most recent loss to Afghanistan garnered strong criticism from fans and former players, with many expressing doubts about the leadership of Babar Azam.
Read more:Afghanistan beats Pakistan by 8 wickets in world cup 2023
After the Afghanistan match, Babar Azam did not mince words about the team’s overall performance, stating that both bowling and fielding “fell short of the mark.”
In an official press release, the PCB acknowledged the emotions and sentiments of cricket enthusiasts following these three defeats. They expressed hope that cricket fans and the entire cricket community would continue to support Captain Babar Azam and the Pakistani cricket team in this challenging environment.
PCB urges cricket fraternity to support Pakistan Team
Read more ⤵️ https://t.co/yoJtz7MHBe
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) October 26, 2023
The PCB noted that the team still has four matches left in the round-robin stage and expressed optimism that the team will regroup, overcome these setbacks, and perform effectively in the upcoming fixtures.
Regarding the media scrutiny aimed at Babar and the team management, the PCB affirmed that, like former cricketers, they consider both successes and defeats as integral parts of the game.
The PCB emphasized that Captain Babar Azam and Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq were given the freedom and support to form the squad for the World Cup. They further stated that the board would make decisions in the best interest of Pakistan cricket based on the team’s performance in the World Cup. At present, the PCB encourages fans, former players, and stakeholders to rally behind the team as they strive for a triumphant comeback in the tournament.
Pakistan is set to face South Africa in their sixth World Cup game at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Meanwhile, Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur, in a video message, expressed confidence that the team has the potential to beat any opponent when they play their perfect game. He acknowledged that the team’s skills had not been up to par in the last three games but believed that with the right coaching and support, the players could turn things around. Arthur stressed the need to execute skills under pressure and emphasized the importance of getting the basics and disciplines right.
"We have to get on a winning streak"
🗣️ Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur talks about the team's campaign and the areas of improvement #CWC23 | #DattKePakistani pic.twitter.com/sRm5PTq24d
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 26, 2023
In discussing Pakistan’s upcoming match against South Africa, Arthur noted that the African side was full of confidence due to their strong performance. He maintained that with proper execution of skills and adherence to discipline, Pakistan could defeat any opponent.
