The recent Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India was not only a loss but also a crisis of criticism, as ex-speedster Shoaib Akhtar made an incisive critique of what went wrong.
In an interview after the game, Akhtar referred to the performance as a case study in bad planning, stating that leadership failures and confused tactics overshadowed Pakistan’s bright start.
Akhtar argues that Pakistan should have dominated with the bat early enough to achieve a 200-plus total. Rather, the middle overs saw a very slow innings, revealing a lack of finishers to maintain pressure.
He pointed to the lack of explosive children such as Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr., implying that they were left out, depriving the side of aggression and putting India on the defensive.
The bowling policy also received the same level of criticism. Akhtar wondered why key overs were left to part-time options and frontline pacers were reserved, making the strategy a planning vacuum.
Another criticism of his was the failure to dislodge the top order in India through prolonged short-pitch bowling, which he thinks would have induced premature breakthroughs.
However, Akhtar did not only give a negative analysis. He also credited India with their calmness under pressure, and one disciplined middle-overs spell by Shivam Dube was the turning point.
His fair perspective made the defeat not only a bad day but also an indication that Pakistan must have a better strategy and a more decisive leadership figure by the time the knockout tour starts.
