Aakash Chopra argues that Pakistan cannot rely on luck and must instead undertake systematic reforms to improve their cricketing fortunes.
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by five wickets with 26.4 overs to spare in a 2023 World Cup league game in Bengaluru yesterday. This leaves Pakistan with a near impossible task to make it to the semi-finals of the competition.
Aakash Chopra blamed Pakistan’s terrible position on institutional failure in a video posted to his YouTube account.
“Where did Qudrat ka nizam go? When your team does so badly, it’s not a failure of a person or a team, it’s a a systemic failure, so please do address that. I doubt cricket will function with Qudrat ka nizam. It doesn’t function, honestly.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener emphasized the difficult job that Babar Azam and company have in their last league game against England in order to beat the Kiwis to a semi-final spot.
“Pakistan can qualify if they score 400 runs and stop the opposing team at 112, score 350 and stop them at 62, and if they score 300, stop them at 13. If you are playing with a little heart, score 450 and then stop them at 161. In case you get to chase, do it in three overs no matter how many runs they score,” Chopra explained.
Aakash Chopra
Chopra said that the challenge is made more difficult by the fact that the Men in Green are the only major side to have never scored 400 runs in an ODI and England are the only top team to have never surrendered that many runs.
“Too little, too late for Pakistan” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said that certain Pakistan ex-cricketers and media had made ridiculous objections during the competition.
“Too little, too late for Pakistan. Via Dubai, Lahore or Karachi – wherever you want to go. In the entire tournament, we have heard just one thing – how India are doing something, how the pitches are playing, or how the balls have changed.”
Aakash Chopra
The former cricket player turned broadcaster argued that for Pakistan to progress in international cricket, they should examine their weaknesses.
“Start thinking about yourself because if you don’t think about yourself and focus on others, there is no scope for your improvement. You threw your captain under the bus. The selection committee gets sacked. See after a few days, the president will also change.”
Aakash Chopra
Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur also expressed dissatisfaction with some of the tournament’s extraneous issues. Legends such as Wasim Akram have chastised him for focusing on little matters rather than the root causes of their poor performances.