Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt didn’t filter his words as he suggested that Babar Azam and company played like minnows in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against USA in Dallas on June 6.
In a nail-biting encounter, both teams finished with an identical score of 109, necessitating the one-over eliminator, where the Men in Green conceded 18 runs.
Pakistan tried their best with the bat in the Super Over but USA’s left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar held his nerves to restrict the 2009 champions to just 13.
"It is what it is. I don't know what to so. It seemed that the Pakistan team came to USA on foot. Body language was very lethargic and there was no energy. It also seemed like we have been playing cricket for 150 years," Butt said in a video on Cricket Baithak's YouTube channel.
"Pakistan boast about their fast bowling but we didn't bowl a single bouncer against the USA. Is this the same bowling that Ramiz Raja and others made a hype of. We needed to win the game by taking wickets but they lost only wickets after crossing 100. Being an associate nation, I thought USA should've been under pressure, but in this case it seemed that Pakistan were the minnows. USA looked so relaxed. They had better field placements than us. Shaheen doesn't seem to have anything other than yorkers. If his ball isn't swinging, he becomes zero," he added.
Pakistan's loss to USA is a big setback in their hopes to qualify for the Super Eight. They are due to face arch-rivals India in the next match in New York on Sunday (June 9).
Commenting on Pakistan's shocking loss, Babar had said: "First 6 overs while batting we didn't capitalise. Back to back wickets always put you on the back foot, as a batter you need to step up and build partnerships. We were not up to the mark in the first 6 overs with the ball. Our spinners also did not take wickets in the middle overs so these things cost us. Very hard, all credit to USA, they played better than us in all three departments. Little bit of moisture in the pitch, it was also two-paced. As a professional you need to assess the conditions."
