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    World Cup 2023 So Far: Controversies and Upsets

    Written by: Waseem Abbas
    Posted on: October 27, 2023 | | 中文

    Team Pakistan after losing against Afghanistan on Oct 23

    Afghanistan thrashed Pakistan by 8 wickets, their first win against Pakistan in ODI World Cup history on the 23rd of October in Chennai, India. Team Pakistan’s dismal performance was due to its timid batting approach, below-par spin bowling and mediocre captaincy, and it now appears that the men in green are virtually out of the World Cup (WC). With just two wins in five games, only a miracle can help Pakistan reach the semis; only if it wins all its next games against South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand and England, it stands a chance. What we have seen over the years watching Pakistan cricket is, that miracles do happen, especially when the men in green are cornered and left with no option except to bounce back resoundingly.

    Shaheen Afridi after dismissing Rohit Sharma

    With Afghanistan’s triumphs against England and Pakistan, the World Cup has entered an interesting phase, with all the teams in the hunt for semi-final spots. The competition level has been superb, with the defending champions standing at the bottom of the table, as all the teams have at least won a game halfway through the tournament. The Netherlands has won against South Africa, in what can be called the biggest upset of this World Cup, as Afghanistan’s wins can no longer be called upsets because it has improved by leaps and bounds as a team in the last three to four years.

    Team Afghanistan

    India is cruising in the World Cup campaign with spectacular performances, heralded by the skipper Rohit Sharma and veteran Virat Kohli's masterly batting, along with their bowlers executing their plans exquisitely. With five straight wins, India is assured a place in the top four, with South Africa and New Zealand trailing behind with sound chances of making it to the semis. The fourth slot is wide open, and any team can make it with their performances in the upcoming games, but Australia, Pakistan and England will be vying for the slot. Afghanistan can be a surprise entry in the semis, if it keeps its opponents shaken with its spin-heavy attack.

    The World Cup has been nothing short of a run-fest, with teams scoring 300+ scores, more often than not. The Runs Per Over (RPO) in this World Cup, as of October 24, is 5.83 and the average is 34.99, which means a team will score, on average, 291.5 runs in fifty overs losing 8 wickets. The average number of runs scored by a team in an inning in the 2011 World Cup was around 220, while it was slightly higher in the last two World Cups, 278 in 2015 and 271 in 2019. The players benefiting from this run fest are mostly from India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The top scorer of the ongoing WC is South Africa’s Quinton De Cock with 407 runs, followed by India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli (354 runs), Australia’s David Warner (332 runs) and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who has amassed 311 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 133.47. Pakistan’s Muhammad Rizwan, Sri Lanka’s Sadeera Samarawickrama, New Zealand’s youngster Rachin Ravindra and South Africa’s Henrich Klassen are next in the order with 304, 295, 290 and 288 runs respectively. Klassen’s 288 runs have come at whopping strike rate of 150, which is the highest scoring rate for any batsman with 20 or more runs in this WC. In the bowling charts, Austrlia’s Adam Zampa is at the top with thirteen wickets, followed by New Zealand’s Mitchel Santner (12), India's Jasprit Bumrah (11), Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka (11), New Zealand’s Mark Henry (10) and Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi (10). Bumrah has been spectacular amongst them all, averaging marginally over 16 with the ball, while conceding 3.6 runs per over.

    Virat Kohli playing a shot against NZ, on Oct 22, in Dharamshala

    Team India is doing wonders in the World Cup so far, but it is the mismanagement and planned controversies that are letting down the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). Pakistan cricket team is the main target of the Hindutva-inspired BCCI high-ups, as visas for team Pakistan were issued only three days before the first warm-up game. Most of Pakistan's journalists covering the megaevent are yet to receive their visas, with few exceptions. Meanwhile, Pakistani cricket fans were denied visas and one can rarely see a Pakistani supporter in the stands, which was disheartening for a megaevent like WC. Pakistan mulled over the possibility of boycotting the World Cup, as India had just refused to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, and jeopardized the whole event. However, Pakistan sent the team for the mega event, as India's financial hegemony in the cricketing world, because India generates 82% of ICC revenues. Secondly, Pakistan is expected to host the Champions Trophy 2025 and to make sure the event is held in Pakistan, it had to send the team to India.

    Adam Zampa, the highest wicket-taker of the WC, bowling against India

    Another controversy surrounding the World Cup is the scheduling of matches in venues that suit certain teams at the expense of others. For example, Pakistan’s game against Afghanistan, the team with arguably the best spin attack in the World Cup, was scheduled in Chennai, the best spin track in India. Meanwhile, its game against Australia, the team known for fast-bowling prowess and its ability to play fast bowling well, was scheduled in Bengaluru, a ground known to assist fast bowlers. On the contrary, India's game against Australia was held in Chennai, a spin heaven, versus Afghanistan in Delhi, a comparatively high-scoring venue. The results are self-evident as India and Afghanistan won their games on grounds best suited to their strengths. It is not an excuse for Pakistan's poor performance, as it should have won its games regardless of the conditions, but it is also a fact that conditions dictate results in cricket. Why ICC allowed India to decide all the venues to the advantage of some teams and the disadvantage of others, is a big question mark on ICC's integrity as an impartial body of managing cricket.

    After India defeated Pakistan

    Pakistan team’s director Mickey Arthur complained that team Pakistan was being booed and harassed on grounds, especially in Ahmedabad, Gujrat, and its players were being intimidated by slurs, slang words and anti-Pakistan slogans. When Pakistan captain Babar Azam was speaking to the broadcaster Ravi Shastri on the toss during its clash with India, the 1,30,000-crowd booed and shouted derogatory slogans against Pakistan and Babar. When Muhammad Rizwan, a player who had irked the Indian crowd after his tweet dedicating his man-of-the-match performance against Sri Lanka to the people of Palestine, was coming back to the pavilion, the crowd chanted "Jai Shree Ram" to infuriate him. Pakistan has officially complained to the ICC over these issues, but the Indian authorities are unmoved and the ICC is, as usual, failing to take a stand against the BCCI.

    Tom Latham plays a shot against Afghanistan

    It would be encouraging if team Pakistan bounces back in the upcoming games and reaches the semis. One thing is very clear, you can never write off team Pakistan, as they can defy odds and surprise everyone. The famous Nasser Hussain quote after Virat Kohli's wicket in the 2017 Champions Trophy sums up team Pakistan: "Pakistan cricket at its best: one minute down, next minute up". The hope is, although it goes against conventional logic, that Pakistan will thrash India in the semis or final, and avenge the deliberate manipulation of the BCCI in choosing the grounds, slurs and anti-Pakistan slogans.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021









    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir



    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir, 27 October 1947, when Indian military troops forcibly occupied Kashmir illegally, claiming a fraudulent ‘Instrument of Accession’ which never existed as documented by eminent British historian Alastair Lamb! Kashmir & Palestine are examples of illegal occupation & continued Resistance to Repression! There are so many commonalities in Kashmir & Palestine: both under brutal military occupation of foreign powers, both are facing an indigenous, popular, spontaneous & widespread Resistance & Uprising, both are in violation of UN Resolutions which haven’t been implemented, both are witnessing an attempted change in the demographic balance, both are facing the use of rape as a weapon of war, both are testimony to double-standards & hypocrisy of Western powers on human rights & fundamental rights, and both conflicts have an element of racism and Islamophobia, while enduring peace, security and stability will remain elusive in both regions, South Asia & Middle East, until these issues are resolved in accordance with popular aspirations.