Gautam Gambhir didn’t hold back in his criticism of Pakistan’s subpar fielding performance following their loss to Afghanistan in the World Cup 2023 on October 23 in Chennai.
Pakistan’s defeat to Afghanistan was a significant setback, marking Afghanistan’s first-ever victory over Pakistan in one-day cricket. This loss stung particularly hard for Pakistan, as it marked their third consecutive defeat in the tournament after initially securing two victories.
The team’s lackluster fielding display was a major factor contributing to their defeat. Former Pakistani players, Moin Khan and Wasim Akram, attributed this poor performance to inadequate planning and a failure to prioritize players’ fitness standards.
Additionally, the team’s inability to exert pressure on Afghanistan with their spin bowling was emphasized by Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, who expressed disappointment over their inability to take wickets during the middle overs.
Gambhir, speaking to Star Sports, pointed out that Pakistan’s fielding issues had been a concern since the Asia Cup. He stressed the importance of consistent fielding, stating, “You can have an off day in bowling or batting, but not in fielding. This issue has persisted since the Asia Cup, and it hasn’t improved. In my opinion, Pakistan has the weakest fielding team in this World Cup.”
Pakistan’s all-rounder, Iftikhar Ahmed, acknowledged that their spin bowlers had been ineffective, contributing to their series of defeats in the World Cup. Their lineup lacked a traditional finger spinner, with all-rounders Iftikhar and Mohammad Nawaz sharing the spin duties. This deficiency in their bowling strategy was exploited by Afghanistan, who successfully chased down a target of 283 runs set by Pakistan, achieving their highest chase in ODI cricket.
Gambhir further noted that Pakistan’s spin bowling remains a concern, particularly when they couldn’t pick up any wickets on a track where there was no dew and conditions were conducive for spinners.
