The India- Pakistan 20-20 World Cup clash in Australia was one of the most thrilling matches in recent history. The game went to the very last ball and was eventually brought into India’s favour with a Ravi Ashwin four.
Before that, however, the game went through a topsy-turvy route, that had fans going through every emotion on the spectrum. In the very last over, for example, there was a six, a no ball, two wides, a free hit, and a wicket on that said free hit. One incident however that was the toughest to digest by Pakistan players and fans alike was Indian players running three runs after the ball hit Virat Kohli’s wicket on the free hit delivery.
As soon as this happened, the majority of Pakistan players surrounded the umpires and called for a dead ball. Umpires however made the Pakistan players aware of the cricket rule and the three important runs were allowed to go into India’s bag. Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik has now come out and criticised Pakistan players for letting the ball go despite not knowing the rule.
“They don’t know that the ball is not dead when it hits the stumps on a free hit, so leave other things aside. They don’t even know this, so talking about which conditions you have to play in, is another matter. We just try to find short-term solutions,” said Malik. Malik used an interesting analogy of a leaking pipe to explain the Pakistan Cricket Board’s management of the team.
“If there is a leakage in pipe, the permanent solution is to change the pipe. But we try to bridge the gap. You need to change the pipe,” he added.
Pakistan went on to lose their next game as well after losing to India in their first. India meanwhile defeated the Netherlands in their second match and have moved to the top of Group 2. Pakistan as a result of their back-to-back losses have slid down to fifth in the group and has a very tough qualification road ahead.
