Pakistan's T20 World Cup Woes Deepen Amidst Accusations and Internal Discord

Pakistan's T20 World Cup Woes Deepen Amidst Accusations and Internal Discord

Pakistan's disappointing start to the ICC T20 World Cup continued with a six-run defeat to arch-rivals India, leaving their Super Eight hopes hanging in the balance. The loss has sparked a flurry of accusations and hints of internal discord within the team.

Former captain Salim Malik has pointed the finger at all-rounder Imad Wasim, accusing him of deliberately wasting balls during Pakistan's chase of 120 runs. Wasim's slow-paced innings saw him take 23 deliveries to score just 15 runs, a move that Malik believes hindered Pakistan's run chase.

"You look at his (Wasim) innings and it appears as if he was wasting balls, not scoring runs, and making things difficult in the run-chase," Malik said on the 24 News channel.

Adding to the controversy, another former captain, Shahid Afridi, hinted at internal discord within the team, suggesting that some players have issues with skipper Babar Azam. Afridi emphasized the crucial role of a captain in maintaining team unity and morale.

"A captain brings everyone together; either he spoils the team environment or he builds the team. Let this World Cup finish, and I will speak openly," Afridi said.

Afridi also noted his close relationship with left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi, his son-in-law, who was removed as T20 captain just before the World Cup.

Pakistan's team has come under fire following consecutive losses to the USA and India, putting their Super Eight chances in jeopardy. Pakistan's hopes now rely on winning convincingly against Canada and Ireland, while also hoping for losses by the USA to India and Ireland. Even if these conditions are met, the final qualification will likely depend on the net run rate.

The team's poor performance has raised questions about the leadership of Babar Azam and the overall team chemistry. The accusations and hints of internal discord have further fueled the controversy surrounding Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign.

Tags: #PakistanCricket, #T20WorldCup, #SalimMalik, #ImadWasim, #ShahidAfridi