Nasser Hussain highlights difference between current and previous Pakistan team
The Green Shirts are currently playing a must-win match against Bangladesh in World Cup
Former England captain Nasser Hussain weighed in on the difference between the previous and current Pakistan team as the Green Shirts are playing a must-win match against Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup 2023 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India, on Tuesday.
Pakistan have lost four consecutive matches in the World Cup for the first time in history and the chances of their qualification are on thin ice as even if they win their remaining chances, they would have to rely on the results of other teams, New Zealand especially.
Hussain opened up on the difference between current and previous Pakistani sides saying that the main difference between them is the bowling attack.
"At this World Cup, Pakistan's bowling in particular has just not been able to keep scores down. The two run-chases from South Africa and Afghanistan - previous Pakistan sides would have defended both of those totals in those conditions,” Hussain said.
It must be noted that Pakistan scored 282 and 270 runs against Afghanistan and South Africa and lost those matches by eight and one wickets respectively. The Green Shirts were unable to defend this target and Hussain believed that the previous sides would’ve defended this.
In the 2015 World Cup, Pakistan gave a 223-run target to arguably the best South African white-ball side of this generation, who were the absolute favourites of that World Cup and defended the target.
The target was revised to 232 runs due to DLS intervention and Pakistan removed the entire Proteas side consisting of batters like Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, AD de Villiers and others after scoring just 202 runs.
Meanwhile, in the 2011 World Cup, Shahid Afridi-led Pakistan defended many low totals, including 184 against Canada after removing the entire side for just 138 runs.
In the same 2011 World Cup, Pakistan also bundled the entire Australian team out for just 176 runs. That side had players like Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussy and others but none could stand in front of the deadly Pakistani bowling attack.
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