Pakistan Were Playing Badminton, Not Cricket! : Former PAK Star Lashes Out At Women’s Team For Poor Show In T20 World Cup

Former Pakistan batter, Simple Ali was unhappy with how the Pakistan women’s team dropped over 10 catches in their T20 World Cup 2024 match against New Zealand on Monday, 13th October, which eventually resulted in their elimination from the tournament. Ali remarked that the Fatima Sana-led team was playing more of Badminton than cricket against the Kiwis.

“It seemed like Pakistan were playing badminton, not cricket. Our women’s cricket chairperson is a badminton player, and it showed in the way the team played”, he told on his YouTube channel.

The 53-year old mentioned Tania Mallick‘s name, who is a former national badminton champion of Pakistan, presently acting as the chairperson of the women’s cricket board.

Regarding the dropped catches, the women’s team dropped a host of easy catches during the match and had it been taken, it could’ve changed the entire complexion of the game. He further praised captain Fatima Sana for her knock as she was the only one, who tried to make amends for the team.

“Mashallah, 11-12 catches dropped, easy ones. Dolly, dolly, dolly! Sana Fatima lost her father recently; she played the best knock,” the ex Pakistan cricketer further said.

Speaking of the match, despite of dropping so many catches, New Zealand were restricted to a low total of 110 in 20 overs. Nashra Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers for the Women in Green as she picked 3 wickets for 18 runs. But nothing went in their favour in the run-chase. Pakistan went on losing regular wickets with Fatima Sana playing a gutsy knock of 21 before the team were bundled out for a paltry 56 runs, which not only resulted in their elimination but also their arch-rivals India as well, who were hoping for a Pakistan win to keep their chances alive.

The Pakistanis are playing in the T20 World Cup since the 2009 edition and have never crossed the group stages till date.