Against one of the weakest sides in the competition, Pakistan were expected to assert dominance early and decisively. Instead, they allowed the contest to drift, surrendering control at crucial moments and exposing familiar vulnerabilities. This was not the kind of start that builds momentum going into a tournament of this caliber. If it were not for the late, high-risk hitting of Faheem Ashraf, Pakistan’s opening World Cup match could easily have ended in disappointment. While such moments of individual brilliance are celebrated in isolation, they are deeply troubling when they become essential for survival against modest opposition.
Coming into the tournament after a confidence-boosting whitewash of Australia in a home T20 series, expectations were understandably higher — particularly of the batting unit. The middle order, however, once again failed to shoulder responsibility. The inability to rotate strike and close out routine chases continues to haunt Pakistan and remains the team’s most glaring weakness. The bowlers did enough to keep Pakistan in the game, but containment alone is not enough at this level. A World Cup campaign cannot be built on the assumption that the batting will be bailed out every time by lower-order heroics.
Pakistan have escaped with a win, but escapes are not a strategy. With tougher matches looming and the possibility of a high-voltage encounter against India still hanging in the balance, this performance should keep the team on their toes.