(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik expressed his frustration with the team’s disappointing performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The criticism followed Pakistan’s elimination from the 2023 World Cup as their recent 93-run defeat to England at the Eden Gardens made them exit the tournament.
Malik, in his critique, emphasized that the team’s lackluster showing could not be attributed to the rigors of travel, pointing out that every other team faced similar schedules yet managed to play with dedication. He highlighted the absence of professionalism as a key issue plaguing the team.
“Travelling are excuses. The whole world is travelling. Look at India’s calendar. Their pacers didn’t lost pace and swing. It is the professionalism, which is missing in our team. You ask half of them and they would not know how to recover. In the recent past, we didn’t had any ingredient, which can help you to get rid of cramps (sic). We saw that in case of Maxwell, they gave him some gels and he played with severe cramps. It is all excuses. Travelling doesn’t matter,” Malik said as quoted to A Sports.
Citing the selection process, Malik criticized the tendency to pick players based on one-match performances in the PSL. He argued that such selected players might falter under pressure in crucial situations.
“You pick players after one match performance in the PSL. When you go to the crunch situation, your nerves will be tightened and then it will be followed by the cramps. It is not that only because of dehydration you get those cramps, it comes because of pressure as well,” he added.
Suggesting a proactive approach, the former Pakistan captain urged the PCB to introduce a rule mandating the inclusion of the second-string team when facing relatively weaker opposition or when the opponents field their B squads.
“They should make a rule that if the travelling team has sent their B squad, make sure that our B players are facing them for the sake of their development,” he stated.
In a concluding remark, the 41-year-old criticized Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, attributing the team’s struggles to the lack of resources and a perceived absence of strategic acumen from Babar.
“Lack of resources. No street smartness from the captain. We have only won against small teams. He [Babar] is captain for the past three years and there is no improvement,” Malik concluded.