New Delhi, Feb 25: Pakistan’s cricket team faced intense criticism following their exit from the Champions Trophy, with cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar stating that they would have difficulty defeating even a second-tier Indian team.
India, the 2023 ODI World Cup finalists, triumphed over the reigning champions Pakistan by six wickets in the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday, reinforcing their supremacy over their long-time rival.
“I believe a B team (from India) can certainly pose a challenge to Pakistan. I’m uncertain about a C team, but a B team would be extremely tough for Pakistan given their current state,” Gavaskar commented on ‘Sports Today’.
Pakistan, hosting an ICC tournament for the first time since 1996, were eliminated from the Champions Trophy after New Zealand secured a victory against Bangladesh in another Group A match. They remain winless in the tournament.
Since clinching the Champions Trophy in 2017, Pakistan’s cricket performance has declined, finishing fifth in the last two ODI World Cups.
“It’s surprising to see this lack of bench strength. Pakistan has historically possessed natural talent. Even though they may not have always demonstrated technical precision, they have a genuine instinctive grasp of the game,” Gavaskar remarked.
“Take Inzamam-ul-Haq as an example: while his stance might not be what you would recommend to a young batter, he had incredible temperament. His mental strength compensated for any technical deficits.”
Gavaskar also emphasized that despite the existence of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and domestic white-ball competitions, the country struggles to nurture quality players.
“How has India managed to produce so many young talents in white-ball cricket? It’s largely due to the IPL,” the former Indian captain explained.
“Players who excel there often progress to the Ranji Trophy and eventually represent India. This is something that Pakistan cricket must scrutinize.
They need to understand why their bench strength has diminished compared to the past.” India vs Pakistan: A one-sided affair now, according to Atherton. While matches between India and Pakistan are always highly anticipated, former England captain Michael Atherton believes the rivalry has become “one-sided,” and the cricket often fails to meet the expectations.
“Well, it was entirely one-sided,” Atherton stated on the Sky Sports Podcast.
“It appeared predictable from a long way off. Pakistan’s batting lineup lacked power, which was evident in their first match against New Zealand as well.
Their batting seemed to be missing energy and dynamism.” India and Pakistan only face off in ICC events, and these encounters are frequently hyped as blockbuster matches.
“There’s a notable issue with that encounter, isn’t there? It’s a highly anticipated clash for various reasons, partly due to its rarity. They only meet at ICC events on neutral grounds for understandable reasons,” he noted.
“However, with all the hype surrounding that fixture, you hope the cricket lives up to it as well. Over the last decade, they’ve faced each other nine times in ODIs.
“Pakistan has only secured one victory, which was in the Champions Trophy final at the Oval. Therefore, it’s a decidedly one-sided affair currently.”
Pakistan leads the overall head-to-head in ODIs, with 58 wins and 73 losses in 136 matches. Atherton believes Pakistan has lost its competitive edge over the past decade. (Agencies)
