Sunil Gavaskar slams Pakistan players, says they lack self-confidence after Champions Trophy exit

India’s legend Sunil Gavaskar has slammed Pakistan players and feels they lack self-confidence in the ongoing Champions Trophy. Gavaskar reckons the players are hesitating to take the field and the confidence of previous Pakistan teams is missing in the current side.

Pakistan suffered a 60-run loss against New Zealand in the opening match of the Champions Trophy. Subsequently, Mohammad Rizwan’s team suffered a six-wicket loss against arch-rivals India in Dubai on Sunday after they were skittled out for only 241. Thus, they have been eliminated from the eight-team tournament.

Pakistan have failed to come up with a collective effort and it is palpable that they are lacking intent with the bat as they are not taking enough risks.

Gavaskar said on Basit Ali’s YouTube Channel, “I think the shortcoming that we saw in Pakistan’s team was a lack of confidence. It’s a matter of self-confidence. There is no shortage of talent. But there is a lack of confidence. The confidence that they (previous teams) used to have, you don’t see that in Pakistan’s team. It seems like they are hesitating to enter the field. It seems like they are hesitating.”

“There was a time when we used to say that the natural talent was in the West Indies. After the 1980s, we used to say the same thing about Pakistan. They had the mental strength to bowl.”

Pakistan hasn’t been at their best and their experienced players have failed to deliver the goods. The likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf have not performed according to the expectations and many experts have questioned their places in the team.

Pakistan will play its final game of the tournament against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Thursday.