Cricket World Cup - 'This Pakistan Can't Handle Pressure, Hard To Make Comeback": Sourav Ganguly's Verdict On Babar Azam-led Side

18.10.2023 - 12:03 sports.ndtv.com

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team has hit a sort of brake at the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. Though it is still among the top-four teams in the Cricket World Cup standings, the seven-wicket loss to the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team on Saturday is sure to dent its confidence.

The India vs Pakistan rivalry is one that is a closely watched affair among the cricket followers. At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Indian cricket team outplayed their rivals in all departments.

The Indian bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, were on target as they restricted Pakistan to 191. Then Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer scored half-centuries to take the hosts over the line in an emphatic fashion in the Cricket World Cup match.

Former Indian cricket team captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly feels that the Pakistan cricket team will find it hard to make a comeback. "During our time Pakistan was a different team, this is not the type of Pakistan team we used to play.

cricket India Cricket Team Pakistan Cricket Team World Cup 2023 comeback cup on Babar Azam Rohit Sharma Mickey Arthur Sourav Ganguly India Pakistan

Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 21 runs via DLS method in a rain-hit World Cup game to keep their semifinal hopes alive in Bengaluru on Saturday. Opener Fakhar Zaman played an unbeaten knock of 126 and was well-assisted by skipper Babar Azam (66 not out) during their run chase, which was impacted by intermitted rain. New Zealand had amassed 401 for six in their 50 overs. Following a short spell of rain, Pakistan were set a revised target of 342 in 41 overs. The rain returned in the 26th over with Pakistan cruising at 200 for one but no play was possible thereafter.

Cricket World Cup: Babar Azam Hopes Win Against Bangladesh Will Raise Pakistan's Confidence

After Pakistan registered a 7-wicket victory against Bangladesh, captain Babar Azam lavished praise on his team's outstanding performance in all three departments and said that his side will hope to carry the confidence into the next two games. Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in Kolkata to register their third win in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023. With this brilliant victory, Pakistan broke their four-match losing streak in the ongoing tournament and moved to 5th in the points table with 6 points. Meanwhile, the ODI World Cup semifinal dream remained unfulfilled for Bangladesh.

Cricket World Cup 2023: Pakistan Players Fined 20 Percent Of Match Fee. The Reason Is...

Pakistan players have been fined 20 percent of their match fee for maintaining slow over-rate against South Africa in a Cricket World Cup 2023 game which they lost by a solitary wicket. According to an International Cricket Council (ICC) media release, "Match Referee Richie Richardson imposed the sanction after Babar Azam's side was ruled to be four overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration." In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC's 'Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel', which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

"Massive Mistake From Our Captain": Pakistan Great Slams Babar Azam After South Africa Defeat In Cricket World Cup 2023

Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram criticised skipper Babar Azam after the team slumped to narrow defeat against South Africa in Cricket World Cup 2023. South Africa lost wickets in a heap after a solid start to the run chase but Pakistan were not able to break the final wicket partnership between Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj. With the pacers completing their entire quota of overs, Babar gave the ball to Mohammad Nawaz but he ended up conceding a crucial boundary that clinched the game for South Africa. While Babar was seen shouting at Nawaz after the match, Akram said that although people will blame the bowler, the responsibility will actually fall on the skipper Babar.

Babar Azam Loses Cool On Mohammad Nawaz After Defeat Against South Africa In Cricket World Cup 2023 Thriller - Watch

Babar Azam lost his cool on Mohammad Nawaz after Pakistan were narrowly defeated by South Africa in Cricket World Cup 2023 on Friday. Pakistan came agonisingly close to clinching the match but the last wicket pair of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi were able to eke out a memorable win for the Proteas. With the pacers all bowled out, Babar handed the ball to spinner Nawaz and he was not able to take the all-important final wicket. He was slammed for a boundary by Maharaj as Pakistan's Cricket World Cup dreams were dealt a massive blow. After the match, Babar was caught shouting at Nawaz and the video of their interaction has gone viral on social media.

"Had He Given It Out...": Babar's Honest Verdict On Crucial DRS Decision During Cricket World Cup 2023 Clash

A disappointed Pakistan captain Babar Azam took it on his stride despite being on the wrong side of a DRS call during his team's gut-wrenching one-wicket loss to South Africa in a Cricket World Cup 2023 match in Chennai on Friday. It could have been all over in the 46th over for South Africa when a Haris Rauf delivery, bowled wide off the crease, stuck Keshav Maharaj on the pads and Pakistan went for the DRS call after on-field umpire ruled it not out. Ball tracking showed that the ball would have kissed the leg stump but Maharaj survived the DRS appeal, courtesy Umpires' Call, leaving the entire Pakistan unit distraught.