World Cup 2019: 5 things that went against Pakistan in the tournament

Coming into this World Cup, West Indies lacked the flair and knack of their teams from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Their squad was boosted by the return of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Darren Bravo but still, Pakistan was a stronger team on paper. After winning the toss and electing to field first, West Indies rolled back the years and annihilated the Pakistan batting lineup with hostile short-pitched bowling, bundling them out for mere 105 runs.

Chasing a modest total, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer came all guns blazing and needed just 82 balls to chase the target. This dreadful loss dented Pakistan’s NRR plenty and they could get over it throughout the tournament.

2. Rain, More Rain

Fortune has a big part to play in matters relating to weather as even the UAE has seen cricket matches being washed out but, the summer in the UK is more unpredictable. Even before the World Cup, there were echoes of rain playing a major role in the tournament’s outcome. It eventually did as the second week of the World Cup was marred by rain. Four of the first 18 matches at this year’s world cup were affected by rain with Sri Lanka being worst affected with two washouts.

Pakistan would conversely like to contemplate that they were more perturbed by the rain than any other team. Pakistan v Sri Lanka and India v New Zealand were both washed out. If the matches would have been played, it is safe to assume that given the form and history, Pakistan and India would have won these matches. Given the final standings at the end of the round-robin format, Pakistan could have qualified to the knock-out stage.

3. Losing the Driver’s Seat against Australia

After a thumping win against England, Pakistan entered the field against Australia with their heads held high. One hour into the game, all was lost. Inviting Australia to bat first, Pakistan bowlers failed to make early inroads in the Australian batting lineup and allowed David Warner and Aaron Finch to settle. David Warner scored a gritty century while Aaron Finch was dismissed for 82. With Australia cruising at 242-3 at one stage, Pakistan bounced back and restricted Australia to 307. Mohammad Amir recorded his career-best bowling figures – his first 5-wicket haul in ODIs.

They had it under control during the chase too. Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez were batting comfortably well at 136-2 before they both got out to impetuous shots. Panic ensued and suddenly Pakistan was 160-6. Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali tried to regain control but they could only minimize the self-damage caused by their middle-order. Mitchell Starc’s double-wicket over in the 45th sealed the deal and they lost the match by 41 runs.

4. Close Finishes against New Zealand and Afghanistan

With only one win in their first 5 matches and a lot of media trial by fans and supporters, Pakistan regained the confidence to bounce back against South Africa. Their performance against New Zealand and Afghanistan had the same vitality and dynamism as they restricted both of them to modest totals (237 and 227 respectively) but thetical to all Pakistani batting lineups of the past; they had to make everything difficult and strenuous.

Judging by the pitch conditions, many teams would have confidently won both of those matches but that was not the case. Every ardent Pakistan fan would know that watching Pakistan run-chases are not for the faint-hearted. You have to be on your edge of the seats as Ricky Ponting said during the World Cup, “Pakistan beats whoever they want to beat and they lose from whoever they want to. It’s not Pakistan vs the opposition. Its Pakistan vs Pakistan.”

Both matches had its many ups and downs but Pakistan somehow, like always, found a reason to win. Final over finishes in both didn’t help Pakistan’s run-rate any bit.

5. Ifs and Buts that went against

After losing their way in mid-tournament, Pakistan gained momentum in the latter half of the tournament with three consecutive wins. Their chances for a semifinal qualification were further helped by England which lost two matches on the trot against Sri Lanka and Australia. At one stage, Pakistan needed England to lose one of their remaining matches against India and New Zealand and win all of their remaining matches.

However, England bounced back and came up with spirited effort against India to grab a 31-run win and handed New Zealand their 3rd straight defeat to storm into their first semi-final since 1992. England’s win did not end Pakistan’s chances of qualification to the final four. It still had a very slim but nearly impossible chance if it bats first and beat Bangladesh by more than 312 runs in its final group match. That didn’t work out too.