What transpired with the Pakistan cricket team in England during the 2019 Cricket World Cup (CWC) was nothing new. A similar situation occurred in the 1992 CWC, which Pakistan eventually won, after a few teams lost and their run rates declined, giving Pakistan a chance to enter the finals. However, despite social media drawing parallels of the Pakistan cricket team’s performance in 2019 with the one in 1992, lady luck was not modest with the boys in Green during this year’s World Cup. What transpired in 1992 happened for a reason and such coincidences do not repeat themselves, even though history is often said to repeat itself.
The 2019 Cricket World Cup was perhaps another nightmare which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would like to forget. But they would, overlooking it altogether. No one will learn a lesson. I penned an article for a newspaper titled “Strategising for the Cup”, published on April 29, 2019. In it I wrote, “The Pakistan Cricket Team must delve, research and investigate the mistakes they made that resulted in losses during the last six World Cups. These faults could be at the strategic or operational level. At times the team management would have taken a decision that may have slackened the team, while at times the players on the field may have made a blunder. That is why the team management and the coach must, at all times, be a part of the pre-match decision and strategising process.” The team, however, did not seem to have any strategy in place when it decided to bat second against India. It lacked cohesiveness during most of the matches it played.
Pakistan’s campaign in the 2019 CWC began with a shocking defeat when they scored a meager total of 105 runs against the West Indies. However, the Pakistan cricket team presented a gutsy performance against the host team, England, by scoring 330 runs. Still, England lost by only 21 runs. This match gave hope to Pakistani supporters that the team might have a chance of moving forward. Following this match, Pakistan versus Sri Lanka was abandoned. Pakistan lost to Australia by 41 runs. The men in green again scored over 300 runs against South Africa, 308 to be exact, and won by 49 runs. The winning streak continued against New Zealand. The match against Afghanistan turned into a nail-biting encounter when Pakistan, chasing a modest target of 243, won the match with two balls to spare in their 50 overs.
Nothing can be said with certainty about the future, until the PCB is governed by those who have no idea of how to run and manage this sport, and unless properly trained cricketers knowing their strengths and weaknesses are included in the squad
During the 2019 CWC, Pakistan’s batting failed; the middle order could not glue the openers and the lower order together. At times, the team’s selection was not according to the opponent’s strategy. Spinners were rested when they were needed on the field and pacers were ignored, as in the case of Wahab Riaz, who could have made his presence felt if he had been allowed to play. The match against India, as always, ended in a defeat. Despite cricket gurus asking Sarfaraz Ahmed to bat first if he wins the toss, he elected to field first, resulting in India scoring 336 runs. Pakistan, shaken and stirred by a massive total with the undermining thought of playing against India, could not put up a performance worth mentioning. Imam-ul-Haq scored 7 while Mohammad Hafeez could score 9. Fakhar Zaman who scored 62, Babar Azam (48), ImadWasim (46) and Shadab Khan (20) were the only ones to score in double figures while the Captain could only make 12 runs.
Imam-ul-Haq, the prodigal player and opener of the team, could only score 305 runs in eight matches which includes one half-century and a century. His opening partner, Fakhar Zaman, too could not impress with the bat. He scored only 186 runs in eight matches. These include one half-century and one century while he got out on zero, twice. Pakistan’s bowling performance was not consistent either. It seems that the pacers have forgotten the art of swinging the ball which was perfected by their predecessors. The opening partnership, too, was quite wobbly, to say the least. Imam and Fakhar’s first-wicket partnership scored 17 against West Indies, 82 against England, 2 against Australia, 13 against India, 81 against South Africa, 19 against New Zealand, 0 against Afghanistan and 23 against Bangladesh. In total, the opening pair scored 237 in eight matches.
This time again, because of our team’s terrible performance, Pakistan was expecting a spot in the semi-finals by relying on the results of other matches. Had our players given a robust performance worthy of a World Cup match, we could have benefited by winning against India and New Zealand.We would not have been eliminated from the group stage for the fourth time in the last twelve World Cups. Nothing can be said with certainty about the future, until the PCB is governed by those who have no idea of how to run and manage this sport, and unless properly trained cricketers knowing their strengths and weaknesses are included in the squad. Until this happens, we are bound to rely on the run rates of other teams while dismissing the performances by our own team whichbroke the hearts of the Pakistani nation.
The writer is an independent researcher, author and columnist