Shoaib Akhtar recollects emotions, appeals to stand by Pakistan side after the Windies debacle

Pakistan lasted less than 22 overs after the Windies captain Jason Holder won the toss and asked them to bat first in their first match of World Cup 2019 at Trent Bridge on Friday. An appalling approach with the willow against some impressive fast bowling saw the former champions getting folded for 105 with 22 being the highest individual score for the team. The Windies had no problem whatsoever and they knocked off the runs in 13.3 overs which meant the entire game did not last even a full T20 match’s length.

Like the Pakistani supporters, former pacer Shoaib Akhtar too was disheartened by the show and after saying “speechless” in his first tweet, came up with another in which he was more sympathetic towards Sarfaraz Ahmed’s boys. He said “recollecting my thoughts and emotions” and then added that it was important to back the Men in Green as they were representing Pakistan on the highest stage.

Here’s his tweet

Ok the match is over. Recollecting my thoughts and emotions.
We have to back these boys, they are representing our nation. They need our support throughout the World Cup. #PAKvWI #CWC19

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) May 31, 2019

Pakistan batters did well against England recently

The batting performance of Pakistan was particularly disappointing since they were one of the first teams to set foot on English soil to get enough practice for the World Cup 2019. They played a few side games that they won but lost the one-off T20I and a five-match ODI series against England 0-4. However, Pakistan batsmen did come up with a strong performance by hitting above 300 runs in all games except one in which they were all out for 297. They still lost the matches because of poor bowling.

But when it came to the big event, even Pakistan’s batters failed to capitalize on the occasion and meekly surrendered against an in-form West Indian pace attack. Youngster Oshane Thomas was adjudged the man of the match for taking 4 for 27 in 5.4 overs.

Pakistan will need to quickly regather things to run for a semi-final berth. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side next take on England at Trent Bridge on June 3. The hosts thrashed South Africa by 104 runs in their first game at the Oval on Thursday and it will not be an easy task for the Asians to win that game.