The ODI World Cup 2023 turned into a nightmare for Pakistan as they suffered defeats, including losses to newcomers like Afghanistan. Despite winning two matches initially, Pakistan’s victory train derailed, and Babar Azam’s team lost four consecutive matches.
The renowned Pakistani bowlers, considered the world’s deadliest bowling attack, struggled, with key players Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf managing just three wickets in the powerplay throughout the tournament.
The poor bowling performance led to controversy within the Pakistan Cricket Board, and the team’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, resigned.
Morne Morkel resigns as Pakistan bowling coach
Details here ⤵️ https://t.co/El3BgWVbjh
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) November 13, 2023
In the absence of Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali joined the Pakistan team but couldn’t perform effectively. While Shaheen had some shining moments, it didn’t significantly impact the team’s overall performance.
Morkel, who joined as the coach in June, announced his resignation on Monday, following Pakistan’s win in only four out of nine World Cup matches.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to announce Morkel’s replacement. The team, led by Babar Azam, is scheduled to tour Australia soon for a three-match Test series.
Defeats against Afghanistan and South Africa proved costly for Pakistan, despite initial victories against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. After India’s victory, Pakistan faced three consecutive defeats against Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa, making their path to the semi-finals challenging.
Though they made a comeback by defeating Bangladesh, Pakistan’s net run rate worked against them. In the final match, the defending champion England defeated Babar and Co., marking the end of Pakistan’s World Cup journey.
