World Cup 2023: The bowlers whom Pakistan had great pride in bowled embarrassingly – Irfan Pathan

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels Pakistan bowlers were not up to the mark in the ongoing World Cup, which led to their downfall. Pakistan was knocked out of the tournament after they lost their last league stage match against defending champions England by 93 runs at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday.

While Shaheen Shah Afridi picked 18 wickets in the tournament, Haris Rauf was taken to cleaners throughout the league stage. In fact, only three out of Afridi’s 18 wickets came in the Powerplay overs whereas Rauf took 16 wickets overall.

In the absence of Naseem Shah, Pakistan’s bowlers did lack teeth. Furthermore, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz failed to create any kind of pressure in the middle overs.

Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports, “The Pakistani bowlers couldn’t adjust to Indian conditions. The bowlers whom Pakistan had great pride in bowled embarrassingly and the result of that was straightaway seen on Pakistan’s unit.”

“You definitely put emphasis on batting but if you have to perform well in the World Cup, your main bowlers need to deliver. They have everything – Shaheen Shah Afridi has swing and bounce, and Haris Rauf is almost the fastest bowler, he bowls around 150 kph.”

Meanwhile, Rauf bowled with an average of 33.31 and bowled with an expensive economy rate of 6.74 and thus he could not create any pressure on the opposition batters. The fast bowler took three wickets against England but conceded 64 runs in his quota of 10 overs. Pathan added that Rauf will need to do better than this.

“If they are unable to give you control, you won’t be able to find anything else. I did praise Haris Rauf in the end (of England’s innings) today, he wanted to give everything for his team despite a groin issue, but he will have to do better than this.”

“Haris Rauf’s line and length and the movement he was supposed to get from the pitch, nothing was seen. A bowler who bowls at 150 kph should have the ability to scare and dismiss batters with bouncers, we didn’t get to see that as well.”

Pakistan will play its next ODI in November 2024.