As the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 unfolds, the cricketing world is buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming match between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Former Pakistani cricketer and renowned bowling legend Waqar Younis has offered his insights on Pakistan’s journey in the tournament and the challenges they face as they prepare to face Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s performance in the World Cup has been a mixed bag, with a promising start followed by consecutive losses to formidable opponents. Waqar Younis Takes a pragmatic view, suggesting that Pakistan shouldn’t be disheartened by these defeats. He acknowledges that in this World Cup, even the stronger teams have faced setbacks against lesser opponents. He believes that Pakistan should move forward with a positive outlook and focus on the upcoming games to assess their standing in the competition.
He stated, ” I mean Pakistan started really well, they had wonderful two games and then they lost to two big sides. So I mean that they shouldn’t feel too bad about it because we have seen in this World Cup that the teams are losing against the lesser stronger teams, so you know Pakistan should feel okay, both are gone now so let’s focus on these next two games and see where we are.”
Waqar Younis is quick to lend his support to Captain Babar Azam, who has faced scrutiny and criticism due to the team’s performance. He opines that Babar’s captaincy has been decent, and the real issue lies in Pakistan’s batting. Waqar advises Babar to shed the captaincy mantle temporarily when he goes out to bat and think of himself as a player. He believes this mindset will lead to improved performance and more runs on the board.
“I am not really fussed about pressure on his captaincy because I think he is doing a decent job but it’s just the batting where he is having few issues, so I think he needs to sort that out and just come out of that shell, you know go out there as a player, not as a captain to bat. When you think of, yourself as a batsman going in, I think you will produce a better result than that,” he added.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s previous matches, Waqar Younis highlights the transformation in the opening slot’s performance. The fine opening stands in the last two games have addressed a persistent issue. Now, the focus shifts to the middle order, with Babar Azam taking centre stage. Waqar emphasizes that Babar’s contribution is pivotal, given his consistent role as Pakistan’s batting mainstay over the years.
Watch: Waqar Younis’ Preview For The Pakistan-Afghanistan Game
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In the recent clash against Australia, Waqar Younis praised Shaheen Afridi’s performance and characterised it as superb. Shaheen found his length and bowled with discipline. He believes that Pakistan’s ability to bounce back in the final overs is a testament to their fighting spirit. Learning from the mistakes in the last game and extracting positives is crucial for the team’s progress in the tournament.
Shifting his focus to the Afghan side, Waqar Younis acknowledges the strength of Afghanistan’s bowling lineup. He recognizes the world-class talent of Rashid Khan and highlights Mujeeb Ur Rahman as another formidable bowler. However, he remains confident in Pakistan’s ability to overcome Afghanistan, citing their track record of winning the last seven encounters between the two teams.
” Look, no doubt Rashid (Khan) is a world-class bowler, I mean over the years he has proven that. I think Mujeeb Ur Rahman is equally good, he’s another very fine bowler so there are decent bowling lineup, they have got match winners but I don’t think they have a team that can challenge Pakistan. The last seven games Pakistan played against them, they won all of them So I don’t think Pakistan should be that much worried about,” he concluded.
In conclusion, Waqar Younis exudes confidence in Pakistan’s prospects in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. He emphasizes the need for Pakistan to continue building on their strengths and learning from their mistakes. With a renewed focus on batting, Pakistan aims to make a strong comeback in the upcoming clash against Afghanistan, backed by the belief that they have the potential to go far in the tournament. Cricket enthusiasts eagerly await this exciting encounter, with the hope that both teams will deliver a spectacle worth remembering in the annals of cricket history.
The post PAK Vs AFG: Babar Azam Is Doing A Great Job As A Captain: Waqar Younis Takes Absurd Position On Pakistan Woes In ICC World Cup 2023 appeared first on CricketAddictor.
