T20 World Cup 2024: Ind vs Pak Shoaib Akhtar Slams Pakistan team for Shameful defeat Against India! - Sportsayz

The T20 World Cup witnessed India and their traditional rivals Pakistan. While India won by a narrow margin of 6 runs, they cited Pakistan’s disappointing performance and harsh criticism from their former legendary star Shoaib Akhtar.

Pakistan’s performance showcased huge differences between their bowling and batting departments. Their bowlers led by the likes of Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf rose to the occasion and restricted the powerful Indian batting line-up to a low score of 119 runs. This gave Pakistan a golden opportunity a it will win comfortably.

However, the script changed dramatically when Pakistan’s batting failed under pressure. Chasing a seemingly achievable goal, they had all but completed 113 runs. The middle order in particular failed to capitalize on the strong foundation laid by the bowlers by losing wickets in the crucial middle overs.

Known for his sternness, Shoaib Akhtar did not hold back his emotions after the crushing defeat. In a video posted on social media, he expressed his deep disappointment and questioned whether Pakistan also deserved to progress to the Super 8 stage of the tournament.

Akhtar’s criticism went beyond the result itself. He criticized the team's apparent focus on individual milestones rather than team goals.  "You have to play for each other and for the country," he stressed. "You don't have to worry about points. It's disappointing. Does Pakistan deserve to be in the Super 8? God knows. I leave this question to you," he said, leaving the fans to ponder the team's mentality.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam played a part in their batting collapse. He explained that the initial plan was to always chase the target, but the loss of wickets in the middle overs created undue pressure, leading to dangerous dot balls and lack of concentration

Celebrating the win, Indian captain Rohit Sharma admitted that his team also failed with the bat. He believes they could have scored 15-20 more runs, which could have been crucial in a scenario where every run counts. But he hails Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling performance to turn the tide for India.

The defeat raises serious questions about Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign. Can they regroup and bounce back for the remainder of the tournament? More importantly, can the issues highlighted by Akhtar, especially the team’s lack of focus on goals and inability to deal with pressure situations, be addressed?

Though harsh, Akhtar’s criticism could serve as a wake-up call for Pakistan to address its shortcomings. The upcoming win is a chance to prove their worth and silence the doubters.