Pakistan shouldn't go for Cricket World Cup with shoddy performances: Shahid Afridi

By AJP Posted : October 14, 2014, 16:42 Updated : October 14, 2014, 16:42
Stand-in captain Shahid Afridi believes Pakistan's abysmal performance in their 3-0 rout by Australia will hurt the team's chances at next year's World Cup.

Pakistan spurned a good chance of salvaging some pride in the third and final one-dayer on Sunday, losing by one run in the final over in Abu Dhabi. (scorecard)

Needing just two to win in the 50th and final over, Pakistan lost Sohail Tanvir (ten) off spinner Glenn Maxwell's second ball and then Mohammad Irfan (nought) off the last.

Afridi said Pakistan cannot go into the World Cup in February and March in Australia and New Zealand with such performances.

"If we are not able to win on these pitches, then we have to think we can't go into the World Cup with these performances," said Afridi. Pakistan have now lost five straight one-dayers after losing the last two in a 2-1 defeat in Sri Lanka in August.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said it will be up to Misbah to decide whether or not he wants to lead Pakistan in the World Cup, but that the board has already started considering other options.

The PCB earlier this year appointed Misbah one-day captain until 2015 World Cup.

By Ruchi Singh

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