Former West Indies legend Brian Lara said on Tuesday that none of the opposing cricket teams feared Pakistan anymore, while dismissing comparisons between the green shirts of 1992 and 2015 as irrelevant.
“This Pakistan won’t create any fear in the opposition,” Lara said, according to NDTV.
Comparing Misbahul Haq’s men to Imran Khan’s ‘cornered tigers,’ Lara said, “Back in 1992, Pakistan had a lot of match-winners. Imran was an inspirational leader. His team members spoke of them being cornered tigers.”
“Even if they do reach the quarter-finals, they certainly won’t make it to the semis,” Lara added.
The Trinidadian batsman further said Ireland would fancy their chances when they meet Pakistan — for good reasons too. The Irish defeated Pakistan in 2007 to knock them out of the World Cup in the West Indies.
Lara further said team’s senior players need to wake up from their slumber.
“Pakistan will have to wake up some time in the tournament. Some of their top players are still asleep, they have to wake up.”
But it was not just Lara who hit out on Pakistan’s World Cup squad.
“Pakistan are looking out of depth. Zimbabwe had a good chance of winning the game (on Sunday). They restricted Pakistan for 235, a par score. Pakistan batsmen have let their side down. They are talented, yes but there’s too much responsibility on Misbah,” former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman told NDTV, following Pakistan’s first World Cup win of the tournament.
Read: World Cup history repeats itself in Adelaide Oval as Pakistan loses to India
Following its back-to-back defeats to India and West Indies, Pakistan was at the bottom of Pool B. The team faced turmoil as Saeed Ajmal was was lost to suspected bowling action, and Umar Gul and Junaid Khan and Mohammad Hafeez fell prey to injuries.
Pakistan’s next game is against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.