News Desk |
Pakistan National Cricket Team’s coach Micky Arthur jokingly said that he considered the idea of committing suicide after India mercilessly thrashed Pakistan in ICC World Cup match. Arthur, however, believes that his team is still capable enough to beat any team in the tournament.
Living up to its title of ‘unpredictability’, Pakistan eliminated South Africa from the World Cup race after a convincing 49-run win. Yesterday’s win has kept alive Pakistan’s slender chance to qualify for the semi-finals. In order to clinch their place in the qualifying teams, Pakistan will have to win its three remaining matches. Pakistan will face New Zealand, the team currently leading the points table, in the next match.
“I know we can beat New Zealand,” Arthur said after Sunday’s match. “It’s amazing what a difference a week makes. Our boys (were) hurt this week, all of us hurt, incredibly. People did not sleep much, but they came to the training every day and put in, in order to try to turn it around, and today we got some reward.
I was happy to see the crowd celebrating. There were big names today and to see it all it made me feel like that game is being played in Lahore, not Lord’s.
“We are alive and kicking, without a doubt, and we play our best game, we beat anybody. Whether that is New Zealand, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, our remaining games, or England, we showed. We put our three disciplines together, we are as good as any team in this competition,” he told reporters.
Earlier, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudry sarcastically stated that due to Pakistan’s dismal opening in the Cricket World Cup 2019, he is worried Micky Arthur might end up committing suicide like Pakistan’s former coach Bob Woolmer.
Highest Record of Dropped Catches
Meanwhile, former skipper Waseem Akram, who defiantly supported the team in the recent backlash, cheered Pakistan’s comeback in the tournament. He, however, took a dig at the team for having the highest number of dropped catches throughout the tournament.
Read more: Pakistan team ‘Alive and kicking’: eyeing unlikely World Cup survival
“We have dropped 14 catches in the tournament. We are top on the list of teams dropping most catches in the World Cup which isn’t a good sign,” Wasim said. “This isn’t something new, but we need to overcome this problem,” the former captain said
“I was happy to see the crowd celebrating. There were big names today and to see it all it made me feel like that game is being played in Lahore, not Lord’s,” Wasim concluded.
Wasim Akram, recalling the history of World Cup 1992, stated, “They were unbeaten in 1992 too before playing against us and we won the game, they’re unbeaten again and I hope we repeat the show, but boys will have to give their best,” Wasim said.
Read more: There is still hope for Pakistan cricket team
“There’s no need to change the winning combination,” the former captain added.
Pakistan’s victory against South Africa soothed the hearts of disgruntled fans back home. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s cricket team, who has been on a roller coaster ride ever since the beginning of the tournament, needs to sustain its momentum to sail into the semi-finals.