In a resounding and historic eight-wicket loss at the World Cup, Pakistan’s Captain Babar Azam expressed his disappointment over Pakistan’s inability to apply spin pressure on Afghanistan. The contest unfolded in Chennai, where the spinners failed to secure any wickets in their combined 21 overs, conceding a costly 6.23 runs per over. Afghanistan managed to chase down the target of 283 with an impressive eight wickets to spare, marking their first-ever victory over Pakistan in eight One Day International (ODI) encounters.
Pakistan’s recent struggles in the tournament have been exacerbated by the ineffective performance of their spinners, who have managed to secure only one wicket in the last three matches, all of which resulted in losses for the 1992 champions. These setbacks have pushed Pakistan down to fifth place in the tournament standings.
Captain Babar Azam shared his frustrations, saying, “In the middle overs, the spinners didn’t execute as they should have. They failed to exert pressure on our opponents. When we arrived here, I noticed that there is very little room for error for bowlers. Even a slight deviation from the optimal line and length results in severe punishment.”
In stark contrast, Afghan spinners bowled a total of 38 overs, claiming four crucial wickets with an economical rate of 4.63 runs per over, making it one of the most spin-dependent performances in World Cup history.
Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, emphasized that the pitch conditions favored spin bowling, and he praised 18-year-old Noor Ahmad for his stellar World Cup debut, where he secured three major wickets while conceding only 49 runs in his 10 overs. Trott highlighted Ahmad’s ability to generate considerable spin when he finds the right length and described the ball as “fizzing” when the young spinner practiced.
Afghan spinners have been pivotal in the team’s remarkable win over defending champions England earlier in the tournament, contributing to their eight-wicket victory. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan excelled in that game, each taking three wickets.
This triumph has propelled Afghanistan from the bottom of the table to the sixth position. Despite the challenging situation, Captain Babar Azam remains optimistic about Pakistan’s chances, stating, “You never know in cricket; anything can happen. We will strive to deliver our best cricket until the end and rectify our mistakes.”
Next up, Pakistan is set to face South Africa in Chennai on Friday, while Afghanistan is scheduled to play against Sri Lanka in Pune on Sunday.
Historic Victory to Reshape Afghan Cricket
Coach Trott believes that the historic win over Pakistan will have a lasting impact on Afghan cricket, inspiring future generations of players. Trott expressed, “This will have a great ripple effect. I want to ensure that the players pass on the memory of this remarkable victory when we chased down 283 against Pakistan in Chennai.”
Trott attributed the 130-run opening partnership between Rehmanullah Gurbaz (65) and Ibrahim Zadran (87) as the pivotal moment in the game. He also commended Rahmat Shah’s resilient performance, despite suffering from cramps, which helped stabilize the innings after the openers’ dismissals.
Trott praised Shah’s crucial contribution, stating, “The shot he played to hit a straight six sort of broke the back of the game.” Shah remained unbeaten with a score of 77, 45 of which were accrued through singles and twos.
Trott urged his players to savor the victory but also maintain their focus as they prepare for their next challenge against Sri Lanka.
