• Imam-ul-Haq (3/10): In a way, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's injury proved fortuitous for India as the paceman was replaced by Vijay Shankar, who promptly trapped the opener leg before wicket. Imam paid for being too cautious, scoring just seven runs. The only upside for the youngster was he was excellent in the outfield. Press Association
    Imam-ul-Haq (3/10): In a way, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's injury proved fortuitous for India as the paceman was replaced by Vijay Shankar, who promptly trapped the opener leg before wicket. Imam paid for being too cautious, scoring just seven runs. The only upside for the youngster was he was excellent in the outfield. Press Association
  • Fakhar Zaman (8/10): Pakistan's other opener was always going to be a dangerous proposition given his stellar ODI record. He was more circumspect in this innings than he was during his match-winning hundred against the same opposition in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. But so long as he was in the middle, India's fielders could seldom rest easy. His dismissal, for 62, triggered a batting collapse proving what an important part of the Pakistan side he is. Press Association
    Fakhar Zaman (8/10): Pakistan's other opener was always going to be a dangerous proposition given his stellar ODI record. He was more circumspect in this innings than he was during his match-winning hundred against the same opposition in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. But so long as he was in the middle, India's fielders could seldom rest easy. His dismissal, for 62, triggered a batting collapse proving what an important part of the Pakistan side he is. Press Association
  • Babar Azam (7/10): Pakistan's classiest batsman put on a superb partnership with Fakhar and looked set for a big score before he was bowled out by Kuldeep Yadav for 48. Until then, it looked like Pakistan were on the path to what would have been an incredible run chase. AP Photo
    Babar Azam (7/10): Pakistan's classiest batsman put on a superb partnership with Fakhar and looked set for a big score before he was bowled out by Kuldeep Yadav for 48. Until then, it looked like Pakistan were on the path to what would have been an incredible run chase. AP Photo
  • Mohammed Hafeez (2/10): The in-form batting all-rounder was expected to use his enormous experience in this format to continue the good work done by Fakhar and Babar. But rather than build on the foundation, he got dismissed for a quickfire nine, which included a six. Reuters
    Mohammed Hafeez (2/10): The in-form batting all-rounder was expected to use his enormous experience in this format to continue the good work done by Fakhar and Babar. But rather than build on the foundation, he got dismissed for a quickfire nine, which included a six. Reuters
  • Sarfaraz Ahmed (3/10): The captain won the toss, but that was about the only success he had on the day. In hindsight, sending India in was the wrong call to make as their arch-rivals did what they have done against his side at World Cups - post a sizable total and apply scoreboard pressure. Sarfaraz took two catches and was largely tidy behind the stumps. His batting, however, was all over the place. AP Photo
    Sarfaraz Ahmed (3/10): The captain won the toss, but that was about the only success he had on the day. In hindsight, sending India in was the wrong call to make as their arch-rivals did what they have done against his side at World Cups - post a sizable total and apply scoreboard pressure. Sarfaraz took two catches and was largely tidy behind the stumps. His batting, however, was all over the place. AP Photo
  • Shoaib Malik (1/10): The veteran all-rounder was mostly decent on the field, but he bowled just the one over and conceded 11 runs. He was also dismissed for a golden duck, playing a Hardik Pandya delivery on to the stumps. Reuters
    Shoaib Malik (1/10): The veteran all-rounder was mostly decent on the field, but he bowled just the one over and conceded 11 runs. He was also dismissed for a golden duck, playing a Hardik Pandya delivery on to the stumps. Reuters
  • Imad Wasim (7/10): Yet another spin-bowling all-rounder in the side, Imad bowled his left-arm tweaks well throughout India's innings. He was wicketless but conceded just 49 runs in his 10-over spell. He also scored a cameo with the bat in an albeit losing cause. Reuters
    Imad Wasim (7/10): Yet another spin-bowling all-rounder in the side, Imad bowled his left-arm tweaks well throughout India's innings. He was wicketless but conceded just 49 runs in his 10-over spell. He also scored a cameo with the bat in an albeit losing cause. Reuters
  • Shadab Khan (5/10): The leg-spinner began his spell with a nervy first over that saw him concede 17 runs. He got his act together thereafter, beating the bats of Lokesh Rahul and Rohit Sharma, even though he ended up conceding 61 runs in nine overs. He batted well, but it was too little, too late for Pakistan. Reuters
    Shadab Khan (5/10): The leg-spinner began his spell with a nervy first over that saw him concede 17 runs. He got his act together thereafter, beating the bats of Lokesh Rahul and Rohit Sharma, even though he ended up conceding 61 runs in nine overs. He batted well, but it was too little, too late for Pakistan. Reuters
  • Hasan Ali (3/10): When the medium-pacer finished with 1-84, he became the most expensive Pakistan bowler in a 50-over World Cup match. He was guilty of bowling some gimmes, but the right-armer also tested Rohit and Pandya with his in-swingers. It just was not his day. Reuters
    Hasan Ali (3/10): When the medium-pacer finished with 1-84, he became the most expensive Pakistan bowler in a 50-over World Cup match. He was guilty of bowling some gimmes, but the right-armer also tested Rohit and Pandya with his in-swingers. It just was not his day. Reuters
  • Wahab Riaz (4/10): The left-arm paceman bowled with plenty of fire, taking India's first wicket - that of Rahul - yet, he could scarcely find success thereafter. Figures of 1-71 do not do justice to his efforts on the day. Reuters
    Wahab Riaz (4/10): The left-arm paceman bowled with plenty of fire, taking India's first wicket - that of Rahul - yet, he could scarcely find success thereafter. Figures of 1-71 do not do justice to his efforts on the day. Reuters
  • Mohammed Amir (8/10): Easily the best bowler on the day, Pakistan's other left-arm paceman troubled all the Indian batsmen who faced him - most of all Virat Kohli. He ended up taking three wickets to put the brakes on India's run-rate at the death. Press Association
    Mohammed Amir (8/10): Easily the best bowler on the day, Pakistan's other left-arm paceman troubled all the Indian batsmen who faced him - most of all Virat Kohli. He ended up taking three wickets to put the brakes on India's run-rate at the death. Press Association

Cricket World Cup 2019: Pakistan's Sarfaraz Ahmed blames entire team – not just seniors – for India defeat


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

Sarfaraz Ahmed refused to single out Pakistan’s senior players for criticism after the thrashing by India at the  Cricket World Cup, saying his side were all at fault.

India won a rain-affected match by 89 runs at Old Trafford on Sunday, on the back of a sparkling 140 by opener Rohit Sharma.

It means they have now won all seven of the World Cup matches the South Asian neighbours have played against each other.

Although the reasons for the defeat were many, the lacklustre performances of veterans like Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Hafeez brought with it much criticism.

Malik was out first ball, following Hafeez, who made nine, straight back to the pavilion. It was his second consecutive duck in the competition, while he made just eight in his other appearance.

“[It is] not only the senior players, I think whole team is not performing well in all three departments,” Pakistan captain Sarfaraz said.

“I think we're not playing well in all the departments, not fielding, bowling, or batting. If you see today's match, I think batsmen made a good start.

“I think Babar [Azam, who made 48] and Fakhar [Zaman, who was the only Pakistan player to register a half-century], they played really well, but unfortunately, we lost too many wickets. That's why we lost today.”

Sarfaraz defended his decision to bowl first after winning the toss, suggesting his bowlers had failed to execute the gameplan.

“I think we won a good toss, but we didn't capitalise on that,” Sarfraz said. “When we saw the pitch, there was a little bit of moisture, and we wanted to use the conditions. I think we didn't hit the right areas.