Pakistan need to win all their remaining games including that against India in Group A to qualify for the Super 8 in T20 World Cup 2024.
New Delhi: It has been a week since the T20 World Cup 2024 in the United States of America and West Indies started and we have witnessed a few major upsets already. One such incident took place on Friday as co-hosts USA stunned former champions Pakistan at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas via Super Over. Salman Butt was visibly angry as the former Pakistan skipper minced no words against the current players over their lack of intent, stating that as if the players had come to America on foot.
Batting first, Pakistan rode on knocks from Babar Azam and Shadab Khan to post 159/7. In reply, captain Monank Patel (50), Andries Gous (35) and Aaron Jones (36) guide USA to an identical score forcing a Super Over. In the Super Over, USA pacer Saurabh Netravalkar defended 19 runs to win the game. “It is what it is. I don’t know what to so,” Butt said on a YouTube chat show Cricket Baithak.
“It seemed that the Pakistan team came to the USA on foot. Body language was very lethargic and there was no energy. It also seemed like we have been playing cricket for 150 years,” added Butt.
Salman Butt : “Shaheen doesn’t know anything other than yorkers with the new ball. If his ball isn’t swinging, he becomes ineffective.”#SportsTrendsCanada | #PAKvUSA | #T20WorldCup2024 | @im_SalmanButt pic.twitter.com/EIgqAOWhNe
— SportsTrends (@SportsTrendsCan) June 6, 2024
The former opener also expressed that Pakistan looked like minnows against the actual minnows and slammed Shaheen Afridi for bowling yorkers with the new ball. “Pakistan boast about their fast bowling but we didn’t bowl a single bouncer against the USA. Is this is the same bowling that Ramiz Raja and others made a hype of,” he added.
“We needed to win the game by taking wickets but they lost only wickets after before crossing 100. Being an associate nation, I thought USA should’ve been under pressure, but in this case it seemed that Pakistan were the minnows. USA looked so relaxed. They had better field placements than us. Shaheen doesn’t seem to have anything other than yorkers. If his ball isn’t swinging, he becomes zero.”
With this win, USA set their one foot forward for a Super 8 qualification. The American team top Group A with four points from two games. Pakistan have to win all their reaming games to make the cut, including one against India.
