Netizens hailed Virender Sehwag for trolling the Babar Azam-led Pakistan after New Zealand almost ended the South Asian side's journey in the 2023 Cricket World Cup with their win over Sri Lanka.

 

Pakistan are virtually out of the prestigious competition after New Zealand thumped Sri Lanka to boost their chances of semifinal qualification.

Technically, only one semifinal spot is still vacant. But New Zealand has an edge over Pakistan as Babar Azam and his boys would have to pull off a miraculous win against England in Bengaluru during the weekend.

After the Kiwis registered a five-wicket triumph against the islanders with 160 balls to spare, the only way Pakistan can qualify for the semifinals is a victory by 287 runs if they bat first or a win in under three overs if they chase in their next contest versus England.

After New Zealand's victory over Sri Lanka, the Kane Williamson-led team has 10 points with a healthy net run-rate. Pakistan, sitting on 8 points, would need a miracle if they were to secure their place in the semis of the World Cup.

Against this backdrop, Virender Sehwag suggested it was time for the Pakistan cricket team to pack their bags and leave India.

“Pakistan Zindabhaag! Have a safe flight back home,” Virender Sehwag wrote on the microblogging platform.

It looked like a jibe at the Islamic country's fans who often chant “Pakistan Zindabaad” or “Long Live Pakistan” inside stadiums when Babar Azam and his teammates compete against other sides.

It isn't the first time Virender Sehwag has taken a dig at the Pakistan cricket team.

Virender Sehwag, who tormented the Pakistanis during his illustrious career, is known for not mincing his words, especially while describing the state of affairs of the neighboring nation's cricket.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq came up with funny ideas to see Babar Azam and Co. still qualify for the semifinals.

“Wasim bhai gave the idea that Pakistan should bat first, then lock England up in their dressing room and get them timed out in 20 minutes to win the match,” a Pakistani cricket show host said where the legendary pacer was one of the panelists.

Misbah-ul-Haq, also on the show, opined: “Allow England to bat first and lock up the dressing room after that. Why let them put up a total at all!”

Yet, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam hasn't lost hope as he backed his players to accomplish the “unthinkable” against the defending champions, England, who are already out of the race for the semifinals.

“Anything can happen in cricket. We will try to finish the tournament on a high note. We have a plan for net run-rate and will try to execute it. We have planned about how to play the first 10 overs and what to do after that. If Fakhar Zaman plays for 20-30 overs, we can achieve what's required,” Babar Azam on the eve of Pakistan's clash against England.

“The role of Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan will also be important during the match,” he added.

“I have been captaining my team for the last three years and I have never felt this way. It's just because I have not performed the way I should have in the World Cup, that's why people are saying that I am under pressure. I am under no pressure. I have been doing this for the last 2.5 or 3 years. I was the one who was performing and I was the one who was the captain. I was applying the same thing,” Babar Azam continued.

“I don't think I was under any pressure or felt any different because of this. I try to give my best in the field during the fielding. During batting, I think about how I should make runs and make the team win,” he pointed out.

“TV pe baith ke mashwara dena asaan hota hai . Agar mashwara dena hai toh number toh sabke paas hi hai (If someone has to give me advice, everyone has my number. It is easy to give advice on TV. If you want to give me some advice, you can message me),” Babar Azam underlined.

“I bat in accordance with the situation of the match. Sometimes conditions don't allow us to play freely. Every venue has different conditions in India. We are touring India for the first time and didn't know much about the conditions. I admit that I have not been able to performance in line with expectations,” the Pakistan skipper explained.

“About the captaincy – as I said, once we go back to Pakistan or after this match, we will see what happens. But right now, I am not focusing on this, my focus is on the next match,” Babar Azam stated in response to a reporter's query regarding media reports about his plans to quit Pakistan's captaincy.

“I have no idea what decisions you are talking about. The decisions we make here, regarding the selection of players – are the decision of the coaches and the captain. We go with the best combination of conditions and situations. Sometimes we have succeeded and sometimes we haven't,” he noted.

“My goal was to get a good finish in the batting. I didn't have a goal to score 50 or 100. The main thing was to make the team win. The performance that helps the team, not my individual performance. I played slow, I played fast, depending on the situation. I play according to the situation and according to what my team need,” Babar Azam concluded.

Despite Babar Azam's positive talk ahead of his team's clash against England, he has become a butt of jokes on social following Pakistan's near exit from the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

Monikers like “Zimbabar” and “minnow-basher” returned to haunt the Pakistan captain after the Kane Williamson-led side almost ended the Islamic country's hopes of winning their second World Cup title.

For the unversed, Pakistan has not won the 50-over World Cup in more than three decades, with their lone triumph in the elite tournament coming in Australia in 1992.

Babar Azam and his teammates face England at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata with a semifinal spot on the line on Saturday.

Pakistan has eight points after winning four and losing four games each in the World Cup.