Bharat Express

(Express Editorial) CWC23: Mission Impossible of Pakistan

Pakistan has almost qualified for the airport. Awaiting the dependent qualification for the semifinals did not turn into good luck. Were they really here to win?

Hurt heart and defeated hope

Hurt heart and defeated hope

Luck by chance is not a good situation to opt for. Though Pakistan was not counting on it still the fans wanted them on the semis. That is almost not going to happen. India is going to play New Zealand and the Proteas to the Aussies. For the delight of the hosts, the final result is obvious.

They had not arrived to lose. the Pak squad was here to win. They have the capability or not -that is the question. The ability and the performance are two aspects. If cricket is the coin, the bloody difference between the two sides badly hurt Pakistani fans.

With five good batters and three good bowlers along with two good all-rounders -the Team Pakistan was not a bad side. What lacked was the performance. The reason was the poor captaincy overtly and the fractured inner unity covertly.

The expectation of Pakistan fans is the same what everyone who knows cricket, had. They want a superstar contest which has always been seen in Indo-Pak contest on the cricket ground. That could have happened if they would have a good mentor to the team with a good coordination between the players on the ground zero.

The captaincy of Babar Azam was not up to the mark but that could have been well supported by the mentor from the pavilion side and by the players from the ground side. Dhoni and Rohit are the two recent epitomes of good captaincy. Reading them through their captaincy on ground a lot could have learnt.

Now the fans from around the world have to impatiently wait one and half years for the India-Pakistan battle in the year 2025. The Champions Trophy is going to be hosted by none other than Pakistan. That will be a delightful opportunity for the Pakistan to defeat India and win the ninth edition too.