Kamal Ghorui
Pakistan’s Babar Azam being bowled by India’s Axar Patel. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: India’s emphatic 61-run demolition of Pakistan in the T20 World Cup has triggered an extraordinary outpouring of anger and anguish from former Pakistan great Mohammad Yousuf, who described the current phase as “the darkest period in our cricketing history.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The defeat extended Pakistan’s dismal World Cup record against India, who have now won eight of nine T20 World Cup meetings and all eight ODI World Cup clashes between the rivals. On Sunday night, Suryakumar Yadav’s side piled up 175/7, powered by a blistering 77 from Ishan Kishan, before bowling Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs to storm into the Super Eights alongside the West Indies.
Soon after the defeat, Yousuf vented his frustration on social media, writing, “Time’s up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab, Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides.” A day later, his criticism deepened. “Unless we remove political influence and personal agendas from Pakistan cricket, we cannot return to the team we once were. This is the darkest period in our cricketing history, and my heart bleeds for it. Incompetent individuals must be removed from office and from the team,” he posted on X.Pakistan’s collapse was swift and brutal. Chasing 176, they were 13/3 inside three overs after early strikes from Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. When Axar Patel bowled Babar Azam for five, the scoreboard read 34/4 and the contest was effectively over. Usman Khan’s 44 provided brief resistance, but a reckless charge at Axar ended his stay and triggered another collapse.Earlier, Kishan had set the tone with fearless strokeplay, bringing up his fifty in just 27 balls. “I was just keeping it simple and watching the ball,” Kishan said, while Suryakumar added, “After we were 0-1, someone had to take responsibility and the way he took it was amazing.”For Pakistan, however, the conversation has shifted beyond one defeat. Yousuf’s stinging words have framed it as something deeper.
