Pakistan’s national cricket team suffered an embarrassing defeat against Afghanistan in the ODI WC 2023. Gautam Gambhir was quite fumed about the Babar Azam’s brigadier for their poor performance in the field. Gautam Gambhir also took a dig at Pakistan’s batting lineup.
This was the first instance that Afghanistan defeated Pakistan in an ODI match after losing 7 matches on the bounce previously. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi would be pumped up after winning the match by 8 wickets as the batters were hardly troubled by the bowling unit.
You cannot have a bad day in fielding- Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir was having interaction with Star Sports post the game. Gautam Gambhir was quite furious about Pakistan’s fielding and termed it ordinary in the ODI WC 2023. Gautam Gambhir was furious with the spin department as well who couldn’t dictate the terms despite the track offering assistance for the spinners
“We have spoken about this in the Asia Cup as well – Pakistan’s fielding. You can have a bad day in bowling or batting, but not in fielding. This has been going on since the Asia Cup and the department has still not improved. I believe Pakistan are the most ordinary fielding team in this World Cup,” said Gautam Gambhir.
“They are struggling in spin bowling. On this wicket, where there was no dew and there was help for the spinners, none of the three spinners could pick up a single wicket. That is the second concern. The third concern is Pakistan’s batting. Pakistan’s top five batters are similar types of batters. They don’t have a batter apart from Iftikhar Ahmed who can take the game head-on,” he stated.
“Cricket has moved on. Cricket is not the same as it was in the 1990s or 2011, where you score 270 or 280 runs and think that your bowling will defend that. Two new balls, flat wickets, five fielders within the circle, you will have to play proactive and attacking cricket,” he added.