The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday urged fans to rally behind the Green Shirts following three consecutive losses in the World Cup.
Pakistan has lost three consecutive World Cup matches against India, Australia and Afghanistan after winning its first two matches against Sri Lanka and Netherlands. The latest string of defeats has dropped them to the fifth spot in the World Cup.
The latest defeat against Afghanistan had drawn strong criticism from fans and former players, with many questioning the captaincy of Babar Azam.
Speaking to reporters after the Afghanistan match, Babar had not held back on the overall performance of the team, saying that both bowling and fielding “were not up to the mark”.
In a press release issued today, the PCB said that it acknowledged the “emotions and sentiments” of cricket fans after the three consecutive defeats.
“In this challenging environment, the board administration hopes that the cricketing fraternity and fans will continue to support captain Babar Azam and the entire Pakistan cricket team,” the board said.
The PCB said that the team still had four matches remaining in the round-robin stage, adding that it was “optimistic that the team will regroup, overcome the setbacks and perform positively and effectively in the upcoming fixtures”.
The board also addressed the “media scrutiny” directed at Babar and the team management. It said that the PCB’s stance, “echoing that of former cricketers, is that successes and defeats are part of the game”.
The PCB said that Babar and Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq were “given freedom and support” in forming the squad for the World Cup.
“Looking ahead, the board will make decisions in the best interest of Pakistan cricket based on the team’s performances in the World Cup. At present, the PCB encourages fans, former players and stakeholders to rally behind the team as they strive to make a triumphant comeback in the mega-event,” the PCB said.
Pakistan will face South Africa in their sixth game of the World Cup at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
