Five Most Embarrassing Defeats For Pakistan in ODIs

Pakistan, one of the most successful teams in the history of One-Day Internationals cricket also faced humiliating defeats over a period of time. They have produced some of the finest cricketers to have played the game and over the years and have recorded some remarkable victories.

Although, they have won only World Cup way back in 1992, and are a further a force to reckon with, in the fifty-over format. Despite all this, they have had their share of heavy loses.

From embarrassing defeats against arch-rival like India – to shocking results against the minnows of the day, Pakistan as a unit has experienced them all.

Let us take a look at five most embarrassing defeats of Pakistan in ODIs:

A seven-wicket loss to Windies at Cape Town, 1993

The Windies pace unit of the early 1990s was still among the best in the world.

However, nobody expected the reigning world champions to bow out the way Pakistan were back in 1993.

In the second game of the Tri-nation series at Cape Town, Pakistan was asked to bat first before they were strangulated at 11 for three.

However, far worse was to follow as Courtney Walsh, Patrick Patterson and Anderson Cummings rattled the Pakistan innings.

Only Zahid Fazal scored 21 as Pakistan’s innings folded for 43 in 19.5 overs.

Pakistan’s own fast bowling attack wasn’t too bad either and Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis soon reduced Windies to 11 for three, but a total of 43 was never going to be enough.

Brian Lara and Richie Richardson steadied Windies home to hand Pakistan one of their most sobering defeats.

The 62-run loss to Bangladesh in World Cup league game at Northampton, 1999

Bangladesh were whipping boys when they thumped Pakistan in the league stages at Northampton.

Pakistan played superb cricket and had made it into the Super Sixes already when they faced Bangladesh.

Thus, they rested a few players but were still able to restrict their opponents to 223 in 50 overs.

However, things started going awry right from the start as Shahid Afridi went in the first over and Ijaz Ahmed followed in the second.

Soon Pakistan found themselves at 29 for four and from then on it was tough.

Some contributions from the middle-order saw them crawl to 161 but they were all out for that score in only 44.3 overs. It remains one of the most embarrassing defeats in Pakistan’s history.

A three-wicket loss to Ireland in World Cup group game at Jamaica, 2007:

This was a loss that is perhaps still deeply embedded into the Pakistan team’s conscience.

Firstly, they crashed out of the 2007 World Cup due to their loss to massive underdogs Ireland.

Secondly, the death of their coach Bob Woolmer after the game further plunged them into turmoil.

Ireland put Pakistan in to bat and their seam bowlers, led by Boyd Ranking rattled their batting line-up. Not before long Pakistan was reeling at 66 for five and in the end, they got all out for 132 runs.

Although the rain delayed the game, Ireland reached the target in the 42nd over. Pakistan did give them a bit of a scare reducing them to 15 for two but Ireland seemed to be in control from thereon.

An eight-wicket defeat to Australia in World Cup final at Lord’s, 1999:

Pakistan-led by Wasim Akram played brilliant cricket throughout the 1999 World Cup. Meanwhile, when they reached the final, it was likely that they would go all the way.

Pakistan were outright favourites after beating Australia in the group stage. However, everything went wrong for them once they won the toss and chose to bat first.

On a decent Lord’s pitch, the Pakistani batsmen suffered from stage fright and after losing the openers for only 15, Abdur Razzaq and Ijaz Ahmed strung a partnership.

However, that proved to be a false dawn as Pakistan collapsed from 68 for two to be all out for 132, thanks to Shane Warne’s brilliant spell (4-33).

In response, Australia then reached the target in only 20.1 overs and completed a rout.

A 38-run loss to India in Sharjah Cup final at Sharjah, 1985:

Pakistan used to dominate India across formats back in the 1980s and 1990s.

However, they failed to chase 126 in a final against the old enemies. It happened to be one of the most embarrassing defeats in their ODI history.

Javed Miandad’s decision to put India in to bat first proved to be a masterstroke. Imran Khan removed Ravi Shastri off the first ball of the match and continued to take five more wickets (six for 14 in 10 overs) to trigger the collapse.

Mohammad Azharuddin top scored with 47 as India somehow managed to post 125.

Pakistan’s had a moderate start and once they reached 35 for one, it looked like a cakewalk.

However, that is when the collapse started. Roger Binny dismissed Mudassar Nazar, Javed Miandad, Ashraf Ali, and Imran Khan for a duck.

Suddenly, Pakistan were five down for 41. India kept chipping away and eventually dismissed them for 87 –  to hand Pakistan their most embarrassing ODI defeat ever.

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