It’s a significant setback for Babar Azam as Pakistan concluded their Asia Cup 2023 campaign at the bottom of the Super 4 standings. Pakistan found themselves in this position after Bangladesh defeated India by a margin of 6 runs in the Super 4 match held on Friday, September 15, at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.
At the conclusion of the Super 4 stage, both Bangladesh and Pakistan accumulated four points. However, Pakistan ended up at the bottom due to their lower net run rate, which stood at -1.23. In contrast, Bangladesh finished with a net run rate of -0.469. This outcome raises concerns for Pakistan as they prepare for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023.
Despite a promising start, the Men in Green suffered a devastating setback when they faced a colossal 228-run defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India during a rain-interrupted match in Colombo. This was one of the biggest defeats in their One Day International (ODI) history, and it had a profound impact on their net run rate (NRR), which turned negative following this crushing defeat.
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The path to the Asia Cup 2023 final became increasingly challenging for Pakistan after this historic loss. They needed to secure a victory against Sri Lanka in their last Super Four match to secure a spot in the final. Unfortunately, they fell short, losing by two wickets. With this outcome, Sri Lanka emerged as the winners and earned the spot to face India in the final set for September 17.
These setbacks, including their disappointing results in the Asia Cup 2023 and the negative impact on their net run rate, raise concerns about Babar Azam and Pakistan’s readiness for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. Pakistan now faces the crucial task of rectifying their weaknesses, fine-tuning their strategies, and boosting their overall team performance.
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