PAK vs AFG, ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat against Afghanistan in match 22 of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram wasn't the happiest of persons on the team's below-average performance as he slammed the Babar Azam-led side after being humbled by a lower-ranked Afghanistan.

Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghanistan were clinical enough with the bat to chase down the 283-run target with eight wickets in hand and two overs to spare.

Akram questioned the Pakistan team's ordinary fitness levels mentioning their poor display of fielding in the all-important game where a win would have boosted their chance for the semifinals.

 

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"It's embarrassing. Just 2 wickets, 280-290 is a big score. The pitch is wet or not wet. Fielding was... you look at the fitness levels. We have been discussing on this show that there has been no fitness test for the last 2 years. If I take the players' individual names, they won't like it. It looks like they are eating 8 kg of mutton every day," Akram told A Sports while criticising the stinging defeat.

Notably, Pakistan were very poor on the field, giving away easy singles and doubles and also not being sharp on the boundary line as they also gifted a few throw-byes, making it an easy chase for the opponents towards the end. 

He also made a huge revelation that Pakistani players didn't like fitness tests and they hated the former coach Misbah-ul-Haq who set the specific criteria to help the team do the basics right.

"There should be tests. Professionally, you are playing for your country, you are being paid. I am with Misbah. When he was coach, he had that criteria, players hated him. But, it worked for the team. Fielding is all about fitness, and it shows on the field.

"Now we have come to a stage, where we will pray, do ifs and buts, wait for other teams to lose, then we can reach the semi-finals," he added.

The legendary fast bowler didn't shy away from accusing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of not focusing on the betterment of the game.

 

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"Everybody wants to become PCB chairman. I never heard of anyone wanting to get associated with other sports in Pakistan. This is because PCB gives you the limelight. Ramiz Raja was suddenly removed from chairmanship and was not even permitted to take his personal belongings from his office in PCB," he added.

Pakistan will next face South Africa on Friday in Chennai while Afghanistan travel to Pune to be up against Sri Lanka on Monday.