Another Major Failure for Pakistan in the World of Cricket! Pakistan, which has reached the semi-finals six times, couldn’t advance past the initial round in T20 World Cup 2024. 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups were the previous two instances where Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals. As a finalist in the 2022 T20 World Cup, Pakistan began this tournament with two losses – first to an inexperienced USA and then to arch-rivals India. These two losses severely dented Pakistan’s chances of reaching the next stage. Both matches were at points where Pakistan should have won. But unfortunately, this time even “Qudrat Ka Nizam (The System of Nature)“ did not come to Pakistan’s rescue. Pakistan, which wanted to convert its excellent performances in the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups into a successful campaign this time, exited the tournament with a shameful defeat, breaking fans’ hearts.
Well, what’s done is done. Let’s look at the reasons why the Pakistan cricket team failed so miserably.
Number 1: Below Par Fielding
Pakistan dropped 7 catches in 4 matches, costing a total of 113 runs, which is 24% of the total runs conceded. Pakistani bowlers conceded a total of 479 runs in this World Cup. In the two crucial matches that affected Pakistan’s campaign, dropped catches caused significant damage. In the match against the USA, Naseem Shah dropped a catch of the USA captain Monak Patel when he was on 12. Monak Patel went on to score 50. In the same match, Shaheen Afridi dropped a catch of the dangerous batter Aaron Jones in the final over of the USA innings. This resulted in Jones tying the match, and the USA eventually won in the super over. Similarly, in the low-scoring game against India, Usman Khan dropped a catch of Rishabh Pant when he was on 11. This drop cost Pakistan 31 runs in a match they lost by only 6 runs.
Number 2: Lack of Discipline
Pakistani bowlers threw the most wides in this World Cup, averaging almost 8 wides per match. Even at crucial stages, Pakistani bowlers couldn’t show control. The biggest example is the super over against the USA, where Mohammad Amir, Pakistan’s most experienced fast bowler, bowled a 9-ball over with 3 wides. These 3 wides cost Pakistan 7 runs. As a result, the USA won the match by 5 runs in the super over, handing Pakistan a humiliating defeat.
Number 3: Middle Order Batting
As expected, Pakistan’s middle order failed miserably, with an average of 15.66, placing them 11th in the tournament. In terms of average, Pakistan’s middle order was behind Scotland, Namibia, Canada, the USA, and Bangladesh. This was not just a World Cup issue; the middle order had been performing poorly even before the World Cup. Iftikhar Ahmad, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Shadab Khan, all big names, flopped badly. If we look at their strike rates, Iftikhar’s was 100, Azam Khan appeared in one match and got out on a golden duck, Fakhar Zaman’s was 110, and Shadab Khan’s was 129.
Number 4: Top Order
Just like the middle order, the top order was also a flop. The top order, which had been holding Pakistan’s batting line-up together since the last World Cup, turned out to be a house of cards this time. With a strike rate of 100, Pakistan’s top order was ranked 16th out of the 20 teams in the World Cup. Digging deeper, Babar Azam’s strike rate was 101.6, Mohammad Rizwan’s 90.90, Saim Ayub’s 79.31, and Usman Khan’s 90.90. The top order failed to provide a good start in any match. This was the biggest reason for Pakistan’s poor performance because the top order plays the anchor role. But in this ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the top order failed to play that role.
All the above-mentioned reasons were on-field reasons. Now let’s talk about an off-field main reason, which is “Qudrat Ka Nizam.” This is the system on which the Pakistani team and fans have relied heavily in recent times. The prime example is the 2022 World Cup campaign, one of Pakistan’s successful campaigns as they reached the final. In that World Cup, Pakistan’s journey was out of their hands at one stage and relied on other teams and ifs and buts. But then, “Qudrat Ka Nizam” came into play, and Pakistan eventually reached the final. If we talk about this World Cup campaign, at one stage, Pakistan was also looking towards “Qudrat Ka Nizam.” But unfortunately, this time “Qudrat Ka Nizam” did not favour Pakistan.
Moving forward, addressing fielding issues, maintaining bowling discipline, strengthening the middle order, and ensuring consistent top-order performance will be crucial. While “Qudrat Ka Nizam” (The System of Nature) has been a comforting belief, relying solely on fate won’t guarantee victories. Strategic planning, rigorous training, and mental fortitude are equally important.
In conclusion, this T20 World Cup 2024 may have ended in disappointment for Pakistan, but it serves as a reminder that every setback is an opportunity for a comeback. The team has the talent and potential to overcome these hurdles and emerge stronger. Hopefully, Pakistan will learn from this experience and return with renewed vigour and determination in the next tournament.
