Manoj Tiwary brings up that the shortfall of Naseem Shah ended up being expensive for Pakistan
Wednesday, November 08, 2023
KOLKATA: Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary feels Naseem Shah's absence is a key factor in Pakistan's batting with the ball at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
In an exclusive interview with Geo News, the former India cricketer, who played 12 ODIs and two T20Is for India between 2008 and 2015, gave candid and thought-provoking views on Pakistan's strengths, weaknesses and potential to finish in the top four in the tournament. .
When asked about Pakistan's performance in the World Cup, Tiwary expressed his disappointment at their inability to show their potential, saying that Pakistan are a quality team, especially in the knockout matches, and as an Indian, he would not want to face them. such situations.
"They can beat any team. But it's disheartening to see them make fundamental mistakes. They're inconsistent and it's difficult to predict their performance."
Tiwary pointed out that "Naseem Shah's absence has proved very costly for Pakistan".
"Naseem Shah's absence is a big loss for Pakistan. His length bowlers are better than other bowlers and he can control the game. Shaheen Afridi faces challenges due to unsuitable length for Indian conditions," he said.
The former India batsman, who is now the West Bengal sports minister, said Babar Azam could be a more proactive captain who adapts to the match situation.
"I feel Babar could have been better as a captain, he needs to be proactive and think one step ahead, like how he continued Shadab's bowling example despite seeing him struggling to find his rhythm."
"I think it is better to remove a struggling bowler if he is not able to bowl properly. It is important to have a proactive captain, Babar needs to think outside the box. He should be ready to adjust his plans according to the match." Sometimes you need to go against your original plans when the situation on the field is different."
"Give the same Pakistan team under MS Dhoni, I urge this team to be on a winning streak." added Manoj Tiwary.
However, commenting on Babar Azam's skills as a batsman, Tiwary acknowledged his "talent and consistent scoring".
"Babar is a great player under immense pressure. To blame Pakistan's results on him alone is unfair. He has the skills to rank with legends like Sachin Tendulkar or Rohit Sharma. He is undoubtedly the best Pakistani batsman of this era," he said.
Tiwary praised the rise of India's bowling attack, attributing it to extensive coaching and knowledge of biomechanics.
He emphasized the importance of aggression in fast bowling and suggested including Shardul Thakur in the playing XI for the knockout stages to cover the potential struggles of the bowlers.
When asked about the possibility of a bilateral series between Pakistan and India, Tiwary expressed skepticism, stating "I don't see it happening unless there is a change in the current government in India. There are political factors that need to be addressed. such a series will happen."
“As a cricketer, I would like to see Pakistan play India, but there are a few things that need to be sorted out at the government and government level. I played IPL initially with Pakistani players and we enjoyed a good association with them. There might be people who would not want India-Pakistan cricket to take place but I am sure true cricket lovers would love it,” he added.
On Pakistan's chances of making the top four in the World Cup, Tiwary remained optimistic and said, "Nothing is impossible and it depends on the results of other teams. If Pakistan makes it to the top four, it will add excitement to the World Cup," he added. with the potential of a historic semi-final match against India.”
