'Miracles Only Happen With the Braves': Ex-Captain Says Pakistan Can't Win With This 'Body Language'

Pakistan’s 8-wicket defeat to Afghanistan sent shockwaves through the country’s cricket fraternity, leaving the former stars fuming. The men in green failed to defend their 283-run total following a below-par bowling show and slopping fielding in Chennai, letting Afghanistan dominate. It was Pakistan’s first-ever ODI defeat to Afghans but more than the loss, the players’ performance and the captain’s body language are being questioned.

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Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was utterly disappointed with Babar Azam’s lacklustre attitude while leading the side against Afghanistan in Chennai. Speaking with Samaa TV, the legendary all-rounder revolves around its captain and he is the one who has to look after everything.

Pointing out the team’s performance, Afridi said, “Pakistan cannot win with this body language! Babar Azam’s body language on the ground and during the press conference was down.”

“We keep waiting for miracles to happen, but miracles only happen with those who are brave and who take chances.

“The captain is everything in a cricket team. If the captain leads from the front on the field, talks to his players and supports them then the rest of the team also responds and gets active,” he added.

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Afridi further highlighted that Babar needs to learn how to put pressure on the opponents with an attacking field set, citing the examples of the Australians.

“It is the captain’s job to apply pressure, a pacer is bowling and there is no slip? Four are required on 12 balls and you’ve taken a backward point? Apply pressure. What do the Australians do? They take one to two wickets and then put all of their players in the circle to apply pressure like they did against Pakistan,” Afridi was quoted as saying to a local

“Captaining your national side is a matter of honour, but it is not a bed of roses. When you do good, everyone praises you and when you don’t, everyone blames you as well as the head coach,” Afridi added.

Pakistan are currently placed 4^th on the points table with 4 points in their kitty and boast a negative Net Run Rate of -0.4. They will face South Africa in their next fixture in the ongoing World Cup 2023.