T20 World Cup 2024: Sanjay Manjrekar Comes Hard At Pakistan After Defeat Against USA

In a stunning upset, the United States of America (USA) secured a remarkable victory over Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Despite being considered an associate nation, the USA demonstrated their prowess against the formidable Babar Azam-led Pakistani side. Initially batting first, Pakistan faltered in the powerplay, losing three crucial wickets and struggled to amass a formidable total, posting a modest 159 runs in the first innings. Throughout the match, the USA maintained a steady lead, though they encountered challenges in the latter stages, ultimately forcing the game into a nail-biting Super Over. In this tense climax, Pakistani bowler Mohammad Amir found himself under immense pressure, conceding 18 runs. In response, the visitors could only muster 13 runs, sealing a resounding victory for the USA. This triumph catapulted them to the number one position in Group A, signaling their emergence as a force to be reckoned with in the tournament.

Conversely, Pakistan's defeat left them in a precarious position, prompting former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar to comment on their perceived decline. Manjrekar opined that Pakistan had reached a nadir in their cricketing journey, underscoring the significance of the USA's impressive triumph against one of the tournament favorites. The match not only highlighted the USA's growing stature in the cricketing world but also served as a wake-up call for traditional powerhouses like Pakistan, emphasizing the evolving dynamics of the sport on the global stage.

“So early to reach such a peak as far as international cricket is concerned, winning this game. You have got one team like USA reaching Mt. Everest while Pakistan have really hit rock bottom. I have not seen a worse performance from Pakistan. This is not just about the defeat. The review, the Super Over from Mohammad Amir, the misfields when the pressure was on. It hurts me to see this because when I played against Pakistan they were world champions, they have hit rock bottom now,” former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was quoted as saying by India Today.

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, contributed 44 runs off 43 balls in the match, a performance that warrants scrutiny due to his low strike rate. His inability to accelerate the scoring rate may raise concerns for the team going forward in the tournament. Additionally, the other batsmen failed to provide substantial support, with only Shadab Khan showing promise and Shaheen Shah Afridi making a noteworthy contribution towards the end of the innings, aiding Pakistan in reaching a total of 159 runs, which appeared challenging at one point.

In light of these performances, Sanjay Manjrekar expressed disappointment, likening the Pakistani cricketers' display to that of club-level players. He further expressed a loss of respect for the team, indicating his disillusionment with their overall performance in the match. This critique underscores the underwhelming performance of the Pakistani side and highlights the need for introspection and improvement as they progress through the tournament.

“They have seen a few dips over the years. Pakistan being upset is actually a story in itself. India does not feature even once in the list of upsets in the T20 World Cup 2024. The quality of cricket that Pakistan have played today, they looked like club-level players. Their batters at the top of the order gave far too much respect, they thought that 150 was a good enough score and that is why Babar Azam played the way he played. And that is where I really lost respect for Pakistan,” Manjkrekar concluded.