The explosive retired batsman Shahid Afridi has criticized the Pakistan Cricket team of losing the first match against arch-rivals India by 124 runs at Edgbaston on Sunday.
India started slowly but Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya 20 off 6 balls helped the Men in Blue to post a mammoth 319 for 3. In reply, the Pakistani team were bowled out for 164 in 33.4 overs.
Pakistan conceded 46 runs in 9.5 overs before rain arrived. After the rain break, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on 136 with both of them scoring half centuries. At 173 for 1 in 33.1 overs rain ensured that the match was reduced to 48 overs a side. In the last 4 overs, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya smashed the Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the ground scoring 72 runs. India ended the innings on 319 for 3 in 48 overs.
Chasing the target of 324, Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shezad put on 22 in 4.5 overs before rain arrived. The revised target for Pakistan was 289 in 41 overs but the lack of rotating strike hurt them and was bowled out for 164 in 33.4 overs. Pakistan lost the match by 124 runs via D/L method. The fielding of Pakistan team was poor and catching was not up to mark.
Afridi tweeted that the gap between India and Pakistani teams are getting bigger than ever. The Indian team is getting better and we are way behind us. If Pakistan team needs to win matches in One day internationals we need to overhaul our approach, mind-set, work on improving our stagnating skills and play with clear minds.
“India started as the favourite and played the entire game in the same frame of mind, even as Pakistan crumbled limply.”
Pakistan and India played in an ICC tournament last year at the ICC World T20 Cup held in India. India won that match easily. Â The gap between these two nations is bigger with the Indian team playing positive cricket while Pakistan team does not know how to play ODI cricket.
If Pakistan does not pull their socks in the next match against South Africa on 7th May at the same ground then, their tournament will be over. South Africa dominated Sri Lanka. It will be a huge task for Pakistan to play well after such an embarrassing defeat.
