India, led by Rohit Sharma, defeated Pakistan by six runs in a tense encounter. With this win, Team India moved to the top of Group A.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first, where Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf picked up three wickets each.
Rishabh Pant was India’s top contributor with a quick knock of 42, but India ultimately bowled out for 119.
In response, Mohammad Rizwan set the platform for the chase with a patient knock of 31, but Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and were restricted to 113/7 in 20 overs. India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah made crucial dismissals, finishing with figures of 3-14.
The result keeps India on top of the Group A standings with two wins in two matches, while Pakistan have zero points after two defeats, following their upset by the hosts, the United States, in their first game.
Bashing Green Shirts’ poor show against India, Akram said ‘Pakistan doesn’t need an enemy’.
“Pakistan ko dushman ki zarurat nahi hai, ye khudi bahut hain. Ab inke muh mein chusni daalenge kya hum. Ab inko batayenge situation awareness kya hai? Babar batayega, coach batayega. [Pakistan doesn’t need an enemy, they have plenty themselves. Now should we put a pacifier in their mouths? Now we have to explain to them what situation awareness is? Babar will explain, the coach will explain],” an angry Akram said on Star Sports.
“Pichle 8-10 saal se khel rahe hain ye batsmen. Ab Rizwan ko mai bataunga ki main bowler aya hai ek over ke liye, wicket lene aaya hai. Aapne 10 over ke baad koi chauka nahi mara. Koshish bhi nahi ki. Toh 120 (target) bhi chase nahi hua. [These batsmen have been playing for the last 8-10 years. Now should I tell Rizwan that the main bowler has come for one over, to take a wicket? You didn’t hit a boundary after 10 overs. Didn’t even try. So even 120 couldn’t be chased]” he said.
“Ab sharmindagi honi shuru ho gayi hai. As a Pakistani, I want to back the Pakistan team. Hadd hoti hai har cheez ki. [Now it has started to become embarrassing. As a Pakistani, I want to back the Pakistan team. But there’s a limit to everything]”, Akram said while slamming the Pakistan team.
Pakistan now need to beat Canada and Ireland by a big margin so that they can improve their net run rate.
Pakistan will qualify if India win their next two games against the USA and Canada, and the USA lose their remaining matches.
