Misbah-ul-Haq has explained how Pakistan’s most feared bowling attack became toothless in a month. The Men in Green were relying on the bowlers for winning the ICC World Cup 2023 in India.
However, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf lost their form in the Asia Cup 2023, and the same issue hampered the team in the World Cup. Spinners never contributed, while the pacers have been lacking in consistency.
Naseem Shah was injured in the Continental Cup and couldn’t recover before the global event.
“I said after looking at the schedule that it would be a big thing if all the players make it to the World Cup without injuries. They accepted the hybrid model for the Asia Cup and the players had to make trips from Sri Lanka to Pakistan and Pakistan to Sri Lanka,” he said.
“We were placed under quarantine in New Zealand and England and better results were expected. The board must discuss the plans with captain and team management before signing any MOU. Players take the field for the country and not the board officials,” Misbah added.
“The fatigue is behind our ordinary performance in the World Cup. You can’t blame captain and the team management if the results are not upto the mark because the schedule was prepared without their approval,” he concluded.
Pakistan have won four and lost as many games in the global event. They are almost out of the semi-final race, with New Zealand’s favorite to become the fourth team to make it to the knock-outs.
The Men in Green will have to defeat England by 287 runs or more to pip the Kiwis in the net run-rate.