Cricket World Cup 2023: "Very Disappointed" - Pakistan Great Blasts Babar Azam And Co After Collapse Against India

Legendary Pakistan cricket team pacer Shoaib Akhtar was extremely unhappy with Babar Azam and Co after they were dismissed for just 191 during the Cricket World Cup 2023 match against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Pakistan looked poised for a good total as Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam stitched together a gritty partnership but they lost wickets in a heap to fall well short of a par score. From 155 for the loss of two wickets, they were all out for 191 and Akhtar rued the loss of opportunity to post a competitive total on a wicket that was batter-friendly.

"What a waste of opportunity on a great batting wicket. Disappointed. Very disappointed," he posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah hoodwinked the Pakistan batters with semi-old ball and a bagful of tricks as India restricted arch-rivals to a lowly 191 in 42.5 overs.

What a waste of opportunity on a great batting wicket. Disappointed. Very disappointed. pic.twitter.com/2EnC1z9zni

This is Pakistan's second lowest score against India in ODI World Cup after 180 all-out back in 1999.

The two new ball bowlers made the semi-new ball talk by altering the length and using the wobbly seam to run through a circumspect middle-order and put India on course of their eighth victory in ODI World Cups.

Kuldeep Yadav's (2/35) role as the supporting protagonist was also laudable as he did his bit in removing Saud Shakeel (6) and Iftikhr Ahmed (4) in quick succession to hasten the slide.

Skipper Rohit Sharma's decision to bowl first after winning the toss might have raised a few eye-brows but the Indian team always had things under control despite a 72-run third wicket stand between skipper Babar Azam (50 off 58 balls)