Pakistan journey in ICC World Cup 2k22 Part 1
Hi everyone! Today I am posting a little bit differently from my previous posts. But for me, this will be an exciting experience because I am talking about my favorite sport Cricket. As I am from Pakistan so I will be discussing the Pakistan team's performance. I am a colossal Cricket fan and also play Club Cricket. My post will be divided into two or three parts as I don't know how much I will cover in this post. So let's start and go back to when the world cup wasn't started yet.
Question on Pakistan world cup squad
Pakistan played an Asia cup and triangular series before the start of the mega event. But selectors announced the collectively for all the events. Pakistani team was facing middle-order issues as the top order was scoring more runs and the middle order was not getting enough balls and I think that was the reason for below bar performance. Pakistan supporters really wanted a few changes in the squad and they showed their aggression. But selectors didn't change the squad. This costed the team's performance and Pakistan lost the final of the Asia cup against Srilanka. And the Srilanka team ranking was 10th at that time and they had to play a qualifier before coming to the super twelve.
And then Pakistani team went to New Zealand to play triangular series in which Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. It was a closed window because of a busy schedule and the world cup was on the right corner. And every team was looking for good form to enter the world cup. And every team has to play 2 matches against each other. Pakistan won 3 out of 4 matches. Similarly, New Zealand won 3 out of 4 matches. Bangladesh lost all his matches. That's why Pakistan and New Zealand played the final and Pakistan won the final because of bowling strength and this time surprisingly the performance of the middle order. Pakistan went to the world cup with some positivity.
Warm-up matches and Big rivalry
Pakistan lost the first warm-up match against England. 2nd match was washed out against Afghanistan. Every Cricket expert was calling Pakistani bowlers the best bowling attack. Still, one big fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was in danger of playing in the world cup because of his knee injury. But he was declared fit. Pakistan has to face its biggest rivals in their first match. And it wasn't a cup for the Asian teams to play on Australian pitches. Pakistan had a strong bowling line up and India came with strong batting.
Before the start of the match, it was a rain prediction but the rain didn't interrupt the match. India won the toss and they decided to bowl first. Pakistan's start was not good but they finished well by making a fighting total of 160. India bowled well in the start but did not manage well in the end. Shan and Iftikhar were the highest run scorers and they played well after the poor start. India's start was bad with the bat as they lost quick wickets because of the exceptional bowling of Haris and Naseem. At the end of 10 overs, they were 45/4 and Pakistan was in a good position. Pakistan dominated the bowling in the next 7 overs but couldn't able to complete all the spin options. In the last 3 overs, 49 runs were needed and then Kohli played an unmatchable knock and played 2 extraordinary shots which turned the match in Indian favor. Although still 16 runs were left in the last over the issue was that spinner had to bowl a final over. Nawaz picked the key wicket of Hardik in his first ball and then the drama begins. 2nd bowl was dot delivery. Karthik take a single on 3rd ball and 4th bowl went for six but it was also a no-ball which created a big controversy later. Anyhow now 5 runs were remaining on the last 3 balls and it was also a free hit. Kohli was bowled but they run 3 runs because of a free hit. Now it was 2 on 2. Nawaz picked the wicket of Karthik, it was another twist. Now 2 runs were remaining on 1 ball. But Nawaz bowled a wide bowl at that crucial moment and gave 1 extra run. In the last bowl, Ashwin played a lofted shot over the mid-off fielder and won it for India.
My blood pressure was low at that time because of so many twists and it wasn't easy to see your team losing in such a big match. But Pakistani fans supported their team after that loss because they gave up their all but luck was not in their favor.
Note
I thought I will summarize my post in 2 parts but now I think I have to make 5 to 6 parts because at that point I completed only one match and I am tired. I share my detailed memory and the reason was that while writing It seems I was watching a live match again.
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