T20 World Cup 2024: Shoaib Malik slams Babar and Rizwan after Pakistan’s defeat to India

Pakistan suffered a narrow defeat to India on Sunday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

Chasing a modest target of 120 runs from 120 balls, Pakistan's batting lineup crumbled under pressure, ending their innings at 113 for 7, falling just 7 runs short of the target.

The loss has sparked widespread criticism, particularly targeting the team's batting performance. Despite the straightforward chase, Pakistan's key batsmen failed to capitalize. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah played a pivotal role, dismissing Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam, who scored 13 off 10 balls, and experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who made a sluggish 31 off 44 balls. These crucial wickets shifted the momentum in India's favor and highlighted the frailty in Pakistan's chase strategy.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, speaking on a local sports channel, expressed his disappointment in Babar and Rizwan’s performance. Malik questioned the contribution of the team’s most seasoned players in such a critical match. 

“If Babar (Azam) and Mohammad (Rizwan) don’t have a role in a chase of 120 then when is their role? This is common sense because they play conventional cricket. Everyone talks about their strike rate so this was the ideal platform for them. It was such a big match that all their previous bad run would have been washed away, and they would have come out of it strongly," Malik said.

Rizwan’s dismissal, in particular, has been a focal point of criticism. Malik was baffled by Rizwan's shot selection, especially given his extensive experience and leadership in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

"I didn’t understand that shot (from Rizwan). They brought back their main bowler to pick up a wicket and he (Rizwan) has been playing for so long and captaining in PSL He should be familiar with the situation and put up his hand and say this is my match," he further added.

Pakistan's current standing in the T20 World Cup 2024 is precarious. With two losses already, including a surprising defeat to the USA, their chances of advancing to the Super 8 stage now depend heavily on the outcomes of other matches. The team's performance in the upcoming games against Canada on June 11 and Ireland on June 16 will be crucial if they hope to keep their World Cup hopes alive.