World Cup 2023: Every team will not allow you to chase such a big score – Irfan Pathan says Pakistan’s bowling needs sharpness

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels Pakistan’s bowling looked a bit toothless against Sri Lanka at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Tuesday. Pakistan conceded a huge total of 344 runs against Sri Lanka after Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama scored fine centuries.

In the end, Pakistan was able to chase down the score after Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan scored 113 and 131 runs respectively. However, Pathan said not every team will allow Pakistan to chase such a big score. Sri Lanka lacked experience in their bowling line-up and their bowlers were not up to the mark.

Meanwhile, barring Iftikhar Ahmed, all the Pakistan bowlers conceded their runs at an economy rate of more than six. In fact, Pakistan was able to bounce back towards the end as they conceded 50 runs in the last nine overs.

Pakistan’s main two bowlers – Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf – returned with 1-66 and 2-64 in their respective spells of nine and 10 overs.

Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports, “Their bowling needs sharpness. Pakistan will have to bowl better against the stronger teams, the top five or six teams. Every team will not allow you to chase such a big score.”

On the other hand, Shadab Khan conceded 55 runs in the eight overs he bowled whereas Mohammad Nawaz conceded 62 in his nine overs.

“I have seen better Pakistan bowling units in World Cups. Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz are not in form. Shaheen Shah Afridi gave 66 runs in nine overs. It was a flat pitch for sure but he didn’t pick up wickets with the new ball.”

However, Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with a total of four wickets. Moreover, Iftikhar Ahmed conceded 22 runs in the four overs he bowled.

“The slightly good thing in the bowling was that Iftikhar Ahmed conceded only 22 runs in his four overs. Hasan Ali picked up wickets and tried to restrict runs in a difficult period and because of that Haris Rauf did not have that much trouble and Shaheen Shah Afridi could make a comeback in the end.”

Pakistan will play their next match against arch-rivals India at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Saturday.