"It was bad for Pakistan cricket."
Wasim Akram has lambasted Pakistan for their “pathetic performance” against the USA at the T20 World Cup.
Both sides finished their innings on 159 at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas, taking the match to a Super Over.
The USA scored 18-1 and pulled off the major upset when Pakistan only reached 13.
It is one of the biggest cricketing upsets in recent times but Wasim Akram gave a scathing assessment.
He told Star Sports: “Pathetic performance. Winning and losing is a part of the game.
“But you need to fight till the last ball. It was bad for Pakistan cricket.”
Wasim went on to claim that Babar Azam’s side will struggle to progress to the knockout stage.
“Pakistan will struggle from here onwards to qualify for the Super Eight because they have to play India (on June 9) and two more good teams (Ireland and Canada).”
Wasim felt that the game’s turning point was the United States taking early wickets.
Pakistan struggled to 30 for three at the end of the Power Play. From there, they struggled for momentum despite Babar Azam and Shadab Khan adding 72 runs.
He continued: “The turning point of the game… the way USA got early wickets.
“Pakistan had a little partnership between Babar and Shadab and then nobody turned up.
“The fielding was below average, the overall cricket by Pakistan was average.”
He stated that conceding 18 runs in the Super Over dashed Pakistan’s hopes.
Wasim said: “While playing against USA, I was confident, every Pakistan supporter was confident that they will win after the way they played in the first innings.
“In the second innings, they (USA) came out to chase… I mean getting 19 runs in the Super Over is like getting 36 runs in a Super Over. Well done USA.”
Wasim Akram praised USA captain Monank Patel for gathering his bowling resources and making a match-winning 50.
He added: “The moment of the day for me was the innings of USA captain Monank Patel, the way he batted… carried his bat.
“The way he used his suit as in he led from the front.
“Their fielding was spot-on every time, and very impressive cricket from the USA.”
After Pakistan’s loss, Babar Azam said: “Today’s wicket had help for the fast bowlers in the first six overs.
“But later on, I didn’t feel it was a different wicket. It settled down a bit.
“Because of the early start – the matches are starting at 10:30 am – the fast bowlers will obviously get a little help.
“There was some juice in the pitch early morning. So they utilised that and executed their plan.
“Even in the second innings, I think we also got help, but we were not up to the mark in terms of our bowling areas. We lacked in that in the first ten overs.
“We came back after that but they had already taken the momentum. But given the bowlers we have, we should have defended that total. On this pitch, I think it was a defendable total for our bowling.
“We are better than that in the bowling. We did not take wickets in the first six overs. In the middle overs, if your spinner is not taking wickets, then the pressure is on you.
“After ten overs, we did come back but I think the way they finished the game in the Super Over, the credit goes to the US team.”
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