Former Pakistan wicket-keeper bat Rashid Latif has slammed the pitch conditions in New York after the Babar Azam-led team was knocked out of the T20 World Cup. Pakistan won their last match of the tournament against Ireland by three wickets at Florida on Sunday but they were already eliminated after USA’s match against Ireland was abandoned due to rain.
Latif said even a batter like Virat Kohli has struggled to score runs in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Kohli has managed only five runs in the ongoing T20I showpiece in the three matches as he has returned with scores of 1, 4, and 0.
Rashid Latif said on Cricbuzz, “You can’t blame the Pakistan players for everything. They fought well but their efforts were neutered by the pitch conditions. They should have won both the US and India games but the conditions were beyond their control. It can happen, runs have been difficult to come. See, even a batsman like Virat Kohli is not getting runs.”
Latif noted that no team has been able to score half-centuries in the ongoing T20 World Cup, barring Afghanistan.
“Individual half-centuries are not many. No team has scored a half-century against teams like Afghanistan. If a batsman scores a half century the team ends up winning more often than not. Rishabh Pant made 42 and India beat Pakistan. The conditions are not ideal for the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli will look to turn the tables in the Super 8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Kohli has all the experience under his belt and he will look to be at his best.
India will begin their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday.
