Cricket – ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Pakistan v Afghanistan – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India – October 23, 2023 Pakistan’s Babar Azam in motion REUTERS/Samuel Rajkumar Purchase Licensing Rights
Oct 24 (Reuters) – Pakistan captain Babar Azam rued his workforce’s failure to place stress on Afghanistan with spin in Monday’s eight-wicket loss on the World Cup.
Pakistani spinners took no wickets in Chennai as their mixed 21 overs conceded 6.23 runs an over. Afghanistan chased down the goal of 283 with eight wickets to spare.
Spinners have taken just one wicket for Pakistan of their final three matches, all of which the 1992 champions misplaced as they fell to fifth place.
“Within the center overs, the spinners did not bowl as they need to have. They did not put stress on (the opponents),” a dejected Babar informed reporters.
“Once we got here right here, I noticed that the margin of error could be very low for bowlers. When you bowl a bit bit away from the wicket, you’re going to get hit on that ball. So, we’re missing there a bit bit.”
In distinction, Afghan spinners bowled a mixed 38 overs and picked up 4 essential wickets at an economic system fee of 4.63; one of many highest makes use of of spin by any workforce in World Cup historical past.
Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott stated the pitch circumstances favoured spinners.
“I feel if you’ve received the choices like we do it’s silly to not use them, actually when that pitch at the moment,” he stated.
Trott notably praised 18 year-old Noor Ahmad who took three main wickets in his World Cup debut, making a gift of simply 49 runs in his 10 overs.
“As quickly as he received that size proper, he spins the ball a lot,” the coach stated. “When he is practising, you hear that ball fizzing.”
Afghan spinners additionally performed a key position of their shock 69-run win over defending champions England earlier within the match, taking eight wickets with Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan claiming three every.
The 2 wins helped propel the Afghans from backside of the desk to sixth place.
A turnaround was nonetheless potential for Pakistan, Babar stated.
“You by no means know. It is cricket. Something can occur. We’ll attempt to play our greatest cricket until the tip,” he added. “We’ll attempt to overcome our errors.”
Pakistan will keep in Chennai to face South Africa on Friday, whereas Afghanistan play Sri Lanka in Pune on Sunday.
Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Enhancing by Muralikumar Anantharaman
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