It has been over 12 hours since Afghanistan registered their first ODI win against Pakistan and the second of the World Cup 2023, but the unexpected result continues to draw a string of emotions from both nations. While Afghanistan is basking in the glory of their highest successful run-chase, people of Pakistan are down and almost out. The worst hit of the lot are former Pakistan captains; legends who did not expect the team's campaign to land in doldrums with three losses on the bounce. Wasim Akram was angry, Misbah-Ul-Haq gutted, and now even Waqar Younis is at a loss for words.
The former Pakistan pacer was in the commentary box during the final stages of the match, and while he could sense that Afghanistan were going to pull it off, Waqar had a tough time digesting it. It was going to be tough for the next few hours. Waqar was part of a formidable Pakistan team as a player and even when he became captain, had a pretty intimidating line-up at the helm. To go from a time when Pakistan would make the opposition earn every single run to succumbing to Afghanistan by eight wickets is a fall neither he nor other Pakistan skippers saw coming.
"There will be a lot of criticism, some very upset people. It's not about Pakistan losing, but the manner in which they lost. They didn't come to the party, we were all over the place and had no clue. So I'm sure people are hurting back home. I don't know what is going to happen, because there is still plenty of cricket left to be played. My problem is not what is happening back home; my problem now is what's happening inside that dressing room," Waqar said after the match to the host broadcaster.
"They have been dented badly. This is going to play on their minds. The two losses before this were against two big sides, top teams but losing to Afghanistan has put them at the verge of going out of the tournament is not going to be received well, neither back home nor inside that change room. I don't know what will happen. There are a lot of professionals, some talented kids, so if you can pull through from here, who knows what may happen."
{{/usCountry}}"They have been dented badly. This is going to play on their minds. The two losses before this were against two big sides, top teams but losing to Afghanistan has put them at the verge of going out of the tournament is not going to be received well, neither back home nor inside that change room. I don't know what will happen. There are a lot of professionals, some talented kids, so if you can pull through from here, who knows what may happen."
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Hayden points fingers at Babar
One man who was equally, if not more, disheartened, was Waqar's partner of commentary Matthew Hayden. The former Australia opener spent a considerable amount of time with this unit not too long ago. He was appointed head coach of Pakistan for the T20 World Cup, where the team reached the semifinal and named mentor for the next year's spectacle in Australia where, Babar and Co. went one up to finish runner-up. Pakistan's fielding has never been their strongest suit but no one expected the bowling to fall as flat as it has. Babar's captaincy has come under fire as well.
"It is a big loss. It's a first loss to Afghanistan, and the leadership has been questioned. There's no doubt about it. There were some sloppy efforts on the field from the captain himself. You set the tone as captain; you fall on your own sword if you don't get the job done. Unfortunately for Pakistan, they got the job done but only in the first half. The second half was extremely sloppy and that's why the fans would be really hurting back home. The way they lost," added Hayden.