Coach Wahab Riaz has not held back after Pakistan women’s team was eliminated following their third consecutive defeat at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and neither has the internet.
As per the details, Pakistan lost to Bangladesh by 23 runs at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on Saturday, chasing a target of just 124. Openers Muneeba Ali scored 25 runs and Gull Feroza’s 23 gave the side a bright start with a 49-run stand, but a middle-order collapse left the tail with too much to do.
Only four Pakistan batters reached double figures, including captain Fatima Sana, who scored 10.
With the loss confirming Pakistan’s elimination from the tournament, with no path left to the semi-finals, head coach Wahab, during the post-match conference, blamed his own players, placing particular responsibility on the senior names in the lineup.
Unfortunately, he added, the team was not up to the mark in all three games played so far.
On the batting collapse, Wahab was direct. “Suddenly again, it’s a collapse. The senior players, they have to take responsibility. You cannot let them go away like this, that they come in and they need to read the situation well. It was just six an over. But again, the execution was not right. They have to step up.”
Social media users, at the same time, were less measured.
“Another World Cup, another learn,” wrote one user, referencing men’s national team wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan’s “win-or-learn” statement.
“Leave cricket before cricket leaves you,” read another comment while a third read: “Ye to shuru hote hi khtam ho bahar ho gaye [They were knocked out before they even started].”
Pakistan face Australia in Leeds on Tuesday before closing out their campaign against the Netherlands on Saturday.
