The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan turned out to be a lopsided affair as the former humiliated the latter by seven wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (October 14).
Pakistan’s innings folded for a below-par 191 in 42.5 overs after being asked to bat first. The Men in Green were 155/2 at one stage but suffered a collapse that saw them lose eight wickets for just 36 runs.
In reply, the hosts overhauled the target without breaking a sweat. While Rohit Sharma slammed 86 off 63 balls, Shreyas Iyer played an unbeaten knock of 53 to take India home with 19.3 overs to spare.
After the embarrassing loss, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has come under the scanner, with experts raising questions over his leadership abilities.
Speaking on A Sports, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik suggested that Babar should quit captaincy as it would help him grow as a batter.
"I gave an opinion in the past as well that Babar Azam should leave captaincy. This is my personal opinion. Babar does not think out of the box as a captain. He is doing captaincy but the improvement is not coming. He can do wonders for Pakistan as a player," Malik said, before adding that left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi should replace Babar as the skipper.
"Shaheen Afridi should become captain in white ball cricket in case Babar Azam resigns. He has done an attacking captaincy for Lahore Qalandars," he remarked.
However, Shoaib Malik’s comment hasn’t gone down well with batting great Mohammad Yousuf, who thinks Pakistanis should back their captain rather than make such comments during the World Cup.
Yousuf also blasted the legendary Wasim Akram, who was part of the panel, for not interrupting Malik when he was making those remarks.
“During the World Cup, I don't think anybody should talk about this. Secondly, Imran Khan captained in 1983 and 1987 and lost both times before winning on his third attempt in 1992. Any good player should be allowed to continue as a captain for a long time. He is the captain because he has the ability. He did not become the captain because he is related to the PCB chairman. He is a genuine skipper. So talking about him in this manner is a loss for Pakistan and for him as well, especially amid the immense pressure post that loss against India. I am shocked that Wasim Akram, who was sitting there, did not stop him either,” Yousuf said on SAMAA TV.
Pakistan’s next World Cup clash is scheduled against Australia in Bangalore on Friday (October 20).
