Pakistan cricket has long been a theatre of hope, a team that tantalizes its fans with glimpses of brilliance before slipping into mediocrity. But this current Pakistan squad seems to embody a deeper frustration, a far cry from the imperious sides of the 80s and 90s that once dominated the cricketing landscape. The swagger of yesteryear, when Pakistan seemed to walk on water, has given way to inconsistency—especially against top-tier opponents.
Their record against lesser teams—Nepal, Afghanistan, Ireland, or an out-of-sorts Sri Lanka—offers fleeting comfort. But when the stakes are high and the opponents formidable, the harsh reality surfaces: this is a side that struggles to punch above its weight.
Déjà Vu at Bangalore: Familiar Errors, Same Punishment
Four years ago at Taunton, during the 2019 World Cup, a pivotal drop proved costly. David Warner was gifted a life, and he responded with a match-winning century. Fast forward to 2023 at Bangalore, and Pakistan repeated the same blunder. Usama Mir, the man who replaced Shadab Khan—another player haunted by errors in Taunton—fluffed a straightforward chance to dismiss Warner again. Predictably, Warner made them pay, with Mitchell Marsh joining the feast to carve up Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Pakistan’s pacers, touted as heirs to legends like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis, were anything but lethal. Hasan Ali lost his line like a ship without a compass, and Haris Rauf’s obsession with raw pace rendered him ineffective, more mirage than menace. The spinners, too, lacked control—Usama Mir looked lost on the field, while Mohammad Nawaz offered loose deliveries like a minister handing out election freebies.
The parallels between Taunton and Bangalore are stark: an opportunity lost, punishment dealt, and a team undone by their own sloppiness. The fielding was as shambolic as ever, a throwback to that nightmarish game four years ago. Dropped catches, fumbles, and lazy singles mirrored the traffic chaos of Dhaka, where disorder reigns despite every good intention.
And at the centre of this storm stood Babar Azam, looking more like a forlorn captain than an inspiring leader. He seemed as lost in Bangalore as Sarfaraz Ahmed once did at Taunton—bereft of plans, grasping for solutions that never came, with the weight of expectation heavier than ever.
Shaheen's Fireworks in Vain
There was a glimmer of fight, though, from Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose five-wicket haul briefly resuscitated Pakistan’s hopes. Like Mohammad Amir’s spell at Taunton in 2019, Shaheen’s brilliance felt like a lone battle in an otherwise chaotic campaign. But cricket, especially at this level, demands more than individual sparks—it demands collective resilience.
Oscillation Between Promise and Collapse
Pakistan’s chase reflected the same inconsistency that has become their hallmark. Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq began with calm assurance, stitching together 134 runs in just 21 overs. But then came the collapse—Shafique’s casual dismissal acted as a catalyst for a familiar unravelling. Imam and Babar, panicking under pressure, followed him back to the pavilion in quick succession, leaving the middle order to rescue yet another sinking ship.
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel tried to summon the magic that had worked against Sri Lanka, but Australia is no Sri Lanka. Where Sri Lanka had folded, Australia squeezed, knowing well that Pakistan’s fragile mindset would shatter under scrutiny. And shatter it did.
A Fateful Evening in Bangalore
Australia's victory was clinical, almost inevitable. Pakistan's lapses in the field and muddled bowling choices sealed their fate long before the final runs were scored. This loss, reminiscent of their 1996 World Cup quarterfinal defeat at the same venue against India, carried the bitter taste of history repeating itself.
With this defeat, Pakistan's hopes of reaching the semi-finals look increasingly remote. Their campaign, which began with so much promise, now teeters on the brink of irrelevance. Once again, fans are left pondering the same age-old question: how long will they continue to live off memories of a glorious past while watching a team incapable of delivering when it matters most?
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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