Pakistan could not break their India jinx in the 50-overs World Cup on Saturday but more than their seven-wicket defeat by the arch-rivals, it was the manner in which they lost that is troubling the 1992 champions.
Hosts India, egged on by a 100,000-plus crowd at a heaving Narendra Modi Stadium, maintained their unbeaten record against Pakistan with a comprehensive victory, outperforming their rivals in all departments.
Pakistan, cruising at 155-2 in the 29th over, suffered a spectacular meltdown to be all out for 191 with more than seven overs left in their innings.
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After the game Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur cried foul of the absence of Pakistan fans in Ahmedabad, saying that the ICC Cricket World Cup was seeming like a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) event rather than an International Cricket Council event.
Reacting to Mickey Arthur’s comments, former Indian pacer S Sreesanth shot back that even India’s C team can easily beat Pakistan.
“Mickey Arthur said we’ll meet in the final. I don’t think Pakistan can ever beat India in an ICC trophy or in any other event considering the team they have. Even our C team can beat Pakistan’s main XI. Make an IPL XI of players who are not playing, even they can defeat the Pakistan team,” Sreesanth was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.
“Pakistan cannot even dream of playing in such a big stadium. We gave them a chance, but if you play like that, you won’t get such chances again,” Sreesanth added.
The Pakistan Cricket Board also filed a formal complaint to the ICC, alleging ‘ill-suited’ behaviour from the Ahmedabad crowd towards Pakistan players during the clash against India. They also complained to the cricket governing body over the delay in visas for Pakistani journalists and the absence of a visa policy for Pakistan fans for the ongoing tournament.
Pakistan had their first two games before losing to India in their third and will hope to return to winning ways when they take on Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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