'Hurting': Ramiz Raja slams Babar Azam's Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Ramiz Raja criticized Pakistan for their disappointing performance against India in the ODI World Cup, describing the loss as "hurting" and "scarring." India had bowled out Pakistan for a mere 191 runs and then, led by Rohit Sharma's dominant half-century, secured a seven-wicket victory with nearly 20 overs to spare in Ahmedabad.
Raja, speaking on the

ICC

Review Podcast, expressed his disappointment with Pakistan's performance, saying, "It's going to hurt them.

It's scarring, it's a pasting, it's a battering, and they've been outpaced and outplayed in all three departments. If you can't win, then at least compete. Pakistan weren't able to do that."

The defeat marked Pakistan's eighth consecutive loss to India in ODI World Cups, and Raja stressed the need for Pakistan to address this unwelcome streak. He acknowledged that Pakistan players face intense pressure in matches against India but emphasized the importance of overcoming it.

"When you're playing against India, it's such an environment where it's 99 percent India fans and crowds, you're obviously overwhelmed. I understand all of that. But

Babar Azam

has led this side for a good four or five years, so you've got to rise to the occasion," Raja said.

Raja suggested that Pakistan players should draw inspiration from India's ability to handle pressure in high-stakes encounters, commending India for maintaining their performance in World Cup matches against Pakistan.

He encouraged Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, and other senior players to support the younger members of the team so that they can perform strongly in their upcoming matches.
With two wins and four points in the tournament, Pakistan is still in contention for a spot in the World Cup semifinals. Raja emphasized the need for honest team discussions and a collective effort to address their challenges and perform better in future matches.
(With PTI inputs)