Pakistan lost by one run against Zimbabwe in the 2022 T20 World Cup, a defeat that leaves their chances of knock-out qualification hanging by a thread.

After the Pakistan bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 130-8, with Mohammad Wasim Jr picking up a four-for, Babar Azam’s team were expected to register their first win in this year’s edition of the tournament. However, a slow start from the openers with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 14 in 16 balls and Babar making four from nine did not help their case.

Pakistan were soon reduced to 36-3 in 46 balls, and despite a 52-run stand between Shadab Khan and Shan Masood, they were unable to fend off the pressure, eventually losing their second game in a row, a significant blow to their chances in the T20 betting.

Unless other results go their way, last year’s semi-finalists are almost out of the competition, and as expected, there was plenty of reactions to the defeat, with the majority of the pundits dissatisfied with Babar and Rizwan’s approach to the chase and their lack of intent in the powerplay overs.

Babar averages 42.56 in the format with a strike rate of just over 129, while his batting partner’s strike rate is lower, at 127.14. Rizwan is currently the No.1 batter in men’s T20Is, while Babar is at four, but the template they have adopted has been increasingly under the scanner.

A few other critics even directed their criticism towards Babar as the skipper, and questioned poor selections for the must-win match.

(From day one, I said poor selection. Who will take responsibility now? I think it’s time to get rid of the so-called chairman, who has become the God of PCB and the so-called chief selector)

https://twitter.com/autumnfall098/status/1585652755623976960?s=20&t=0Lkb9n4L-DN8yW-9r68fEQ

https://twitter.com/wildcardgyan/status/1585679277118279681?s=20&t=0Lkb9n4L-DN8yW-9r68fEQ

Pakistan have also played a total of 12 T20Is in the last couple of months, including seven against England and five in the T20I tri-series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. “Battle fatigue” was also floated as another explanation for their poor run.

Bet365 will be Live Streaming all of the T20 World Cup matches directly to your iPhone, iPad or Android device, and desktop. This means that every T20 World Cup fixture will be available to bet365 customers wherever they are in the world.