Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez shared his take on the Men in Green’s embarrassing loss to the USA in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. The main match between the two sides ended in a tie and USA prevailed as victors in the super over.
Mohammad Amir had bowled the super over but conceded 18 runs despite giving only one boundary. He bowled several wides on which US batters ran extra runs. In response, while Iftikhar Ahmed hit one-fourth to Saurabh Netravalkar, the USA pacer took his wicket and restricted Pakistan to 13/1, winning the game by 5 runs.
Hafeez started by praising the USA for the win and quickly turned his attention toward Pakistan. He felt that the USA had defeated Pakistan twice in a day. The former cricketer said he couldn't understand how the team couldn't control their nerves in the Super Over.
"There were some debatable calls about how did Pakistan lost not one, but two matches in a day. First, we lost the 20-over game, and then the super over. We understand you were nervous. It was a nervous batting innings, it was nervous bowling and fielding. I understand it in the 20-over game. But you couldn't control your nerves in a Super Over?" said Hafeez on a Pakistan TV show.
Hafeez also questioned why Amir was given the super over instead of Shaheen Afridi or Naseem Shah. Hafeez was also surprised to see why Fakhar Zaman wasn't on strike in the Super Over against a left-arm pacer.
"You couldn't make the right call? Who was the best bowler? For me, it would be Naseem Shah and then Shaheen Shah Afridi. So it was a debatable call to give it to Mohammad Amir. Amir was away from Pakistan cricket for 4 years. Don't try to compare international T20 leagues to international cricket. I have been trying to say this a few times. You didn't trust your main player and trusted someone who is making a comeback after 4 years.
Then you went into the super over. Will Fakhar Zaman be the one taking a strike, or will he be at the non-striker's end? You have a left-arm pacer bowling and you know he would bowl wide yorkers. So these are debatable calls," said Hafeez.
Hafeez stated that the steady deterioration began in the home series against New Zealand, where an under-strength Blackcaps team was able to draw the five-match series 2-2. The former cricketer stated that none of this was investigated and no one responded.
Hafeez alleged that the system was corrupted because they became thirsty for success, which led to the loss. The veteran cricketer stated that Pakistan's bench strength has been weak since last year's Asia Cup, and the problem has yet to be resolved.
"This started with the New Zealand home series. They beat us with their C team. They didn't draw the series, they won it. But we brushed it aside. You bring in players who aren't part of your system. No one is there to give a response. When you get greedy, you compromise your system and you won't get the win.
What we saw today, many had predicted this a long time back. But no one will take responsibility for it. They will do some useless chatter and move on. When your players are not able to respond, take responsibility. The bench strength wasn't ready for the Asia Cup, not for the ODI World Cup, and even now. Otherwise, it will become history. How the USA defeated us twice in a day. They outclassed Pakistan in all departments," said Hafeez.
Pakistan will next face India on June 9 in New York.
