Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe in Group 2 of the T20 World Cup on Thursday. Pakistan chased down a target of 131 runs as they were restricted to 129/8 by a Zimbabwean side; Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals suffered a major blow with the defeat. The team’s poor performance in the match at Perth was mainly due to less batting; Apart from Shan Masood, who scored 44, no other striker could inspire confidence as a relatively inexperienced Zimbabwean side defeated the green outfit.
After the game, Pakistan’s selection committee was criticized for their squad selection; The middle-order team’s struggles have been well-documented in the lead-up to the World Cup, and many former Pakistan cricketers felt the team needed experience in the role. Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik was widely tipped for selection in the team, but the PCB selection committee opted to send an existing group of middle-order batsmen to Australia.
Also read: ‘WC jeetne keliye gadhe ko bhi baap banan padta hai’: An angry Akram questions Babarda Malik after Zimbabwe’s defeat.
After the defeat to Zimbabwe, Wasim Akram challenged the selection committee and insisted that Malik should be part of the team. “Since last one year, we have known that the middle order is weak. Shoaib Malik is sitting here. If I were a captain, what would be my ultimate goal? To win the world championship! I would go to any means to achieve it. “If I want Shoaib Malik in my team, I will tell the chairman and the selectors that I will not play in the World Cup unless I get my player,” Akram said. A Sports.
However, the next day on the same channel, a fan reminded Akram that he had not picked Malik in his T20 World Cup squad before the tournament began. “When you were asked to pick your T20 World Cup team on the show, you didn’t pick Malik. Apart from Azam in Haider’s place, he kept the same team,” the fan asked Akram.
The former Pakistan captain gave an unusual caveat to the question. “Bohot time is good. This happened during the series. As a former cricketer and commentator, jab mere se pucha jaata hai ki aap apni XI banaayein, this is the last thing I want to do. It’s very boring. Toh mujhe vo team dete hain, main kehta hu haan ye hi theek hai,” said Akram. “Do you think the main Wahan Baithkar Pori Kitaabein Nikaalkar Lihta Hu? No i don’t.”