NEW YORK:Former cricketer Kamran Akmal strongly criticized the Pakistan team, branding their defeat against the USA in the ongoing T20 World Cup as the “ultimate insult” for the team. At the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Pakistan suffered a shocking loss to the co-hosts USA in a thrilling encounter, ultimately decided in a Super Over. Pakistan was outclassed by the USA in every aspect of the game, defying the odds to hand the Men in Green a defeat in their tournament opener.
Akmal lambasted Pakistan for their performance, asserting that there could be no greater humiliation for the team than losing in a Super Over. He expressed admiration for the USA’s exceptional display, remarking that they appeared superior to Pakistan, demonstrating remarkable maturity on the field. Akmal highlighted the disparity in cricketing standards between the two teams, suggesting that the defeat exposed the true state of Pakistani cricket and raised questions about its trajectory.
Despite holding the advantage at one point in the game and managing to restrict the USA’s scoring, Pakistan faltered in the final over, allowing the match to extend to a Super Over. Despite a valiant effort, Pakistan fell short by five runs in the Super Over, leading to the USA’s victory over one of the tournament favorites.
Akmal condemned Pakistan’s performance as shameful, particularly emphasizing the disappointment of drawing the game and then losing in the subsequent Super Over. He stressed that such a day would be etched in memory for its ignominy.
Following the defeat, scrutiny fell on Pakistan’s team selection, with former cricketers, including former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja, questioning the selection process. Akmal criticized the management, alleging that player selection was influenced by personal preferences rather than performance.
Pakistan is scheduled to face arch-rival India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday.
