'He struggles': Ex-PAK captain points out the biggest loophole in Pakistan's batting unit

An ICC ODI World Cup match took place on Friday in Bengaluru, India, between South Africa and Pakistan. Pakistan elected to bat first after winning the toss; they amassed 270 runs (all out) in 46.4 overs. South Africa launched an outstanding innings, achieving their target of 271 runs in 47.2 overs despite losing 9 wickets. Pakistan has suffered its fourth consecutive loss in the ICC ODI World Cup, adding to its dismal form.

3 things you need to know

• South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket with sixteen deliveries remaining.
• Pakistan has suffered its fourth consecutive loss in ICC ODI World Cup matches.
• South Africa is at the summit of the standings at the moment

Also Read: ICC accepts 'error' during SA vs PAK in the CWC 23

Pakistan failed in front of South Africa

On Friday, at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, the ICC World Cup 2023 witnessed South Africa emerge victorious against Pakistan by a distressing one wicket. Keshav Maharaj, a member of the South African team, contributed significantly to the victory and assisted his nation in advancing in the standings.

This enthralling matchup between the two factions tested the limits of anticipation until its conclusion. As the victor for South Africa, Keshav Maharaj emerged victorious. By certifying the triumph over Mohammad Nawaz with a boundary, the left-arm spinner was crucial to this momentous triumph.

The Proteas had an impressive beginning to the match, but after losing four wickets and having 25 deliveries remaining, their total declined from 260 to 9, 11 runs shy of their target. It seemed that Pakistan gained something from this precarious situation.
Nevertheless, Keshav Maharaj and Shamsi surpassed all expectations with their composure in high-stress situations and exceptional teamwork.

Mohammad Nawaz bowled a shorter ball in the 47.2nd over of the match, which Keshav deftly hit for a boundary that propelled South Africa to the summit of the standings.

During Pakistan’s innings, South Africa presented a serious test to Pakistan's batting squad, as several important wickets fell quickly after one another. South African bowlers removed Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, and Abdullah Shafique, the captain, before they could put together a meaningful innings. Gerald Coetzee and Tabraiz Shamsi, the spin pair, were very successful in taking key wickets, such as those of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Rizwan. Even the lower-order batsmen struggled to form partnerships and sustain the batting as the battle went on. The bowlers from South Africa, especially Tabraiz Shamsi and Marco Jansen, showed off their skills, which put Pakistan's batting order in jeopardy.

Also Read: How can Pakistan qualify for World Cup semis?

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Pakistan batting unit

Talking to A Sports Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq talked about the struggles of the batting unit against SA.

“Today we were at the stage where it was expected to do great looking at the venue the average score if we played full overs it was expected to be heading towards  300 or maybe better than that we kept on losing wickets we made a change in the middle, Iftikhar Ahmed came first (in middle), normally he struggles in the middle period when spinners are on “

Misbah-ul-Haq claimed that PAK was struggling to save themselves against the SA bowlers and failed to make the most out of the pitch in Chennai. Pakistan has now lost 4 consecutive games in the World Cup and their chances of qualifying for the semifinals are diminishing.