Cricket fraternity irked by Pak show

It is a bitter fact that Pakistan team played below-average cricket and paid the price

The cricket fraternity has reacted with a range of emotions following Pakistan's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, which resulted in their elimination from the tournament.

The cricket fraternity took to the social media platform 'X' to share their opinions following the elimination of the 2009 T20 World Cup-winning team from the current mega-event tournament.

“The deserving team is through to the Super 8 round. If you're depending on Ireland to defeat someone, you seriously don't deserve to qualify. Don't think even "Kudrat Ka Nizam" works for those who are not deserving or ready to improve. All eyes on PCB chairman now!” former opener Ahmed Shehzad posted.

“USA through to the Super 8s … Cricket is going to catch on in the states … !! Pakistan are out … at the moment they are a long way off being a good white ball side,” Vaughan posted.

"It is really very disappointing and sad that Pakistan team could not reach to the Super Eight, but it is also a bitter fact that Pakistan team played below the average cricket. Now it's time to rectify the problems," Kamran Akmal posted.

"Pakistan's World Cup journey is over," Akhtar posted.

Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez highlighted the underlying issues within Pakistan cricket, tweeting, "Dilemma of Pakistan cricket * Higher officials take credits, not responsibility*."

In a more light-hearted yet poignant reaction, the former captain in another tweet stated, Qurbani Kay Janwar Hazir Hon…

"USA Cricket team into the Super 8. Stories like this are what World Cups are about. That's what associate nations can do if given enough opportunity," Bishop posted.

"PAK crash out as USA make it to the Super 8s in a dramatic #t20WorldCup twist," Chopra posted.

"Contrary to popular belief, Pakistan didn't get knocked out because USA v IRE got rained off. They got knocked out because Pakistan lost to USA," Wasim Jaffar posted.

"It’s very saddening, heartbreaking, and embarrassing to watch Pakistan Team exit from the super 8 of the T20 World Cup tournament. I really believe that we need to put Pakistan first before we take any actions and decisions and we should all reflect on each mistake we made, as individuals and collectively," Saqlain Mushtaq posted.

"A lot of the narrative today will be around the exit of Pakistan from the #ICCMensT20WorldCup. None of us saw that coming. But an even bigger story is USA qualifying for the next round. It is one of the biggest events in recent times and I hope they can use Afghanistan as a role model and move up through the ranks. I will be following them closely in the Caribbean," Bhogle posted.

Meanwhile, in the wake of Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, former captain Shahid Afridi shared his candid thoughts on his YouTube channel.

Afridi addressed the rumors about potential changes in the national team lineup and emphasized the need for a more measured approach.

“We have been hearing much these days that eight to nine players will be removed [from the team], it does not happen like that. You remove eight to nine players when you have that many boys waiting [for their chance]. If you are talking about removing Babar as a player, then do you have someone like him? Do we have a player capable of replacing [Mohammad] Rizwan? These types of talks are done when you have a strong bench,” Afridi said.

The former skipper urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to respect domestic cricket performers and suggested that players who underperformed in the T20 World Cup should return to domestic cricket to regain form.

“You need to give respect to your domestic players; they play all year and give great performances, like Salman Agha, Saud Shakeel, Sahibzada Farhan, pacer Mohammad Ali, and many others, these players play all year domestic cricket, and if we ignore their performances and bring a player on the performances of three matches, then we are doing injustice,” he said.