‘Embarrassing, lethargic, fatigued’: Ex-Pakan captains slam team’s fitness level after Afghanan defeat | Cricket-world-cup News

Pakan’s chances of making it to the semi-finals of the ongoing World Cup were dealt a significant blow on Monday after they lost to neighbours Afghanan eight wickets. Batting first, Pakan scored 282/7, thanks to half centuries from Babar Azam (74) and Abdullah Shafique (58). But Afghanan chased down the total at the Chepauk without breaking into a sweat, with eight wickets in hand.
The defeat understandably saw temperatures rise back in Pakan with former national team players pointing fingers at tactics, bowling or the captaincy of Babar.
Questions were also raised on the fitness levels of the Pakan players.
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“It was embarrassing today! Look at the fitness level of Pakan players. We’ve pointed out that these players have not had fitness tests in two years! Their faces are bulging! Lagta hai roz ath ath kilo nihariyan khandene (Looks like they devour eight kilos of slow-cooked meat). These are professional players, there has to be a criteria! When Misbah-ul-Haq was coach, there were fitness criteria in place. Players hated him. But it worked! Fielding is all about fitness. That’s where we are lacking,” said Pakan legend Wasim Akram on A Sports.

To this, Moin Khan pointed out how the Pakan think tank had erred in planning for the World Cup.
“For three months we played cricket in Sri Lanka, the players were drained out! You saw that on the field today. It was clear. Players were lethargic and fatigued. No one was able to field. The prime reason for this was that you kept a tour of Sri Lanka before the World Cup where, we all know from experience, that you get drained out!” said Moin.
It was Pakan’s third defeat in five games, which saw them sink to fifth spot in the standings.
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Shoiab Malik, meanwhile, raised questions about Pakan players chasing individual glory in the rankings charts. Currently, Babar is ranked No 1 in the ODI charts.
Misbah-ul-Haq — who was the coach of the Pakan team until stepping down unceremoniously in 2021, just one month before the T20 World Cup — pointed out the gulf in class between the Pakan and Afghan bowling.
“Clearly, the spin bowling quality of Afghan bowlers was much higher. Our batters were made to earn their runs. Their batters were easily picking up runs against the spinners. It was a matter of ability, confidence, everything. There were no easy deliveries. Rashid Khan didn’t end up among wickets, but every ball he bowled today it looked like something could happen,” said Misbah, who added that the Pakan bowlers lacked discipline from the first over itself when all they needed to do was rein in the Afghan batters to create run rate pressure on them.