After a humiliating defeat at the hands of India in Manchester on Sunday (June 16), Pakistan cricketers are facing strong criticism from both fans and media.

Pakistan, currently ninth in the 10-team points table of World Cup 2019, next plays South Africa (June 23), New Zealand (June 26), Afghanistan (June 29) and Bangladesh (July 5), and will have to win all of those games to reach the semis.

Although they have almost one week’s time to get their act right, skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed has cautioned his teammates to be ready for the wrath of the public back home if the below-par performances continue.

"If anyone thinks that I will go home, then it is their idiocy. If God forbid something unfortunate happens then I won't be the only one going back home," Pakistani media outlet, the news.com.pk, quoted Sarfaraz as saying.

Team India outclassed Pakistan in all departments of the game to register an emphatic 89-run victory in Manchester on Sunday (June 16). After being invited to bat, the Men in Blue rode on Rohit Sharma’s dazzling 140 off 113 balls and Virat Kohli’s 65-ball 77 to post 336/5 on the board. In reply, Pakistan could only muster 212/6 in 40 overs after regular rains curtailed the game.

The Pakistan captain also urged the fans to forget the loss against the traditional rivals and move on.

"Forget the bad performance and uplift the team for the remaining four matches," Sarfaraz said.

(With PTI inputs)