Former Indian wicket-keeper batter, Dinesh Karthik, has shared his insights on Pakistan’s performance in the ongoing 2023 World Cup, highlighting two players whom he believes have faced challenges.
In an interview with Cricbuzz, Karthik acknowledged Pakistan’s unique cricket strategy, emphasizing that although it differs from teams like Australia or England, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s flawed.
However, he pinpointed a critical factor contributing to Pakistan’s struggles – the lack of form with the ball.
Karthik expressed that the team’s difficulties were evident due to the underwhelming performances of two key players. He identified Haris Rauf as a significant miss for Pakistan, emphasizing Rauf’s role as a bowler expected to excel in the middle overs and at the death. However, Rauf has struggled, conceding a considerable number of runs in the tournament.
Karthik also highlighted Shadab Khan as another notable miss for Pakistan, noting that he couldn’t pick up wickets and hasn’t performed at the level seen in the past.
Haris Rauf, currently facing a dip in form, has taken 13 wickets in eight matches but has conceded a notable 469 runs at an economy rate of 6.79. This places him as the second-highest run conceding bowler in the tournament.
Pakistan is currently at the fifth spot in the points table, with four wins and four defeats. To reach the semi-finals, they would need to beat England by around 287 runs while batting first or by about 284 balls to spare while chasing the target.
