Pakistan face Ireland, morale at lowest ebb

PORT LAUDERDALE (Florida): As the Pakistan team is set to complete the formality by playing against Ireland on Sunday at Lauderhill, the mood within the camp is at the lowest ebb following the worst ever performance in the T20 World Cup.

Yet again the team members decided against going through practice sessions on Saturday, a day ahead of the match.

The only point of interest is whether Pakistan will conclude the Pool A engagements on a winning note or whether the weather will again have the final say.

The indications are that playing conditions will be much better for Sunday-which is also an Eid Day here. The chances of having a full match are not all that bright.

On Saturday India and Canada match was also abandoned without a ball being bowled. For the second day in running there has been no play at the venue.

When it comes to port city weather here in the US, you cannot say anything final as the forecast changes at any moment.

Any more rains on Saturday or early Sunday will mean yet another wash out. Even the field condition is not all that encouraging. Though the match between Pakistan and Ireland will have no bearing on the ultimate results as India and the US already have checked into the next stage, a full match would at least help the reserves flex their muscles.

An accompanying official has confirmed to The News that the morale of team members hit rock bottom with this unexpected result that

left members counting the flaws and weaknesses of the team.

“The team members had a combined dinner last evening. They were upset as to what had happened to their World Cup campaign. Everyone was seen talking as what had gone wrong and as to why we were unable to make the best of opportunities coming our way,” he said.

There are suggestions that all the reserves who have not played World Cup T20 matches so far should be given opportunities to play the last match of the 2024 edition. These include Abbas Afridi, Abrar and Azam Khan.

Both Abrar and Abbas have been mere spectators so far on the tour to Europe and England. Though Abbas Afridi was impressive in Ireland, once Haris Rauf got back in action, the talented seamer has been sitting on the sidelines. There has been no place for Abrar who has virtually traveled as a spectator.

There were also rumors that the blame game is on within the ranks of the team with some of the leading officials blaming senior players for the poor show.

Even some players were unhappy over bowlers, especially Haris Rauf’s effort that saw him conceding 15 runs in the last over against the US and taking the game to the Super Over.

Even Mohammad Aamir’s Super Over against the USA came under criticism.

Pakistan squad:

Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

Ireland Squad:

Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young