ISLAMABAD: Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf said on Saturday that the green shirts were focused on playing cricket in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and were not paying attention to criticism from ex-cricketers and pundits.
After losing two back-to-back matches against India and Zimbabwe, former Pakistan cricketers and analysts have slammed the national squad for their lacklustre performances. While some have criticized Pakistan’s middle order for not shouldering the burden when both openers, Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam fail to perform, others have questioned Azam’s captaincy.
Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, in his latest YouTube vlog, said Pakistan’s middle order was “not worth it” and criticized Azam for his “bad captaincy.”
“It is people’s job to talk, so they will talk. You face criticism in any sport you play,” Rauf told reporters during a pre-match press conference. Pakistan take on the Netherlands at Perth on Sunday.
Rauf said the team had arrived in Australia to play in the World Cup tournament, which was their main focus. “So we try not to listen to them (ex-players and pundits) much and play our game. Even some positive talk can hurt you and negative talk can also hurt you,” he added.
He conceded Pakistan hadn’t had the ideal start to the World Cup but said the team had discussed their weaknesses and tried to come up with a strategy to improve on them.
“There is hurt but we have belief in each other’s abilities. We have bonded well, sat together and tried to address our mistakes,” he said.
Pakistan must win all three of their upcoming matches in the Super 12 stage to keep their hopes of reaching the semifinals alive. They face South Africa on November 3 and Bangladesh on November 6.
Pakistan will be cheering for India when the blue shirts lock horns with South Africa on Sunday. India is already in the pole position in the group hence Pakistan would want the race to be open with India taking a comfortable lead over the rest.
If any two teams from India, Zimbabwe or South Africa win two of their remaining three matches then they will finish with more than six points – the maximum that Pakistan can reach from here.
