'Don’t Even Drop Catches...': Aakash Chopra Takes A Hilarious Dig At Pakistan Women’s Fielding
Pakistan W lost to New Zeland W [Source: @DSBcricket/X.com]
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra recently added humour to the online conversation surrounding Pakistan’s disappointing fielding display during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. The Pakistan women’s team dropped eight catches in a must-win match against New Zealand on October 14, a performance that not only eliminated Pakistan but also crushed India’s hopes of advancing to the semi-finals.
The clash took place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and Pakistan’s dismal fielding became a talking point across social media. Chopra, known for his witty commentary, shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), poking fun at Pakistan’s poor performance:
"In Asia, we don’t ‘drop’ players…we ‘rest’ them. In fact, we don’t even drop catches…we rest the ball on the ground 🤪🤣" he said.
Pakistan’s Loss Dashes India’s Semi-Final Hopes
The match held immense significance for India, as their hopes of reaching the semi-finals depended on Pakistan defeating New Zealand. If Pakistan had pulled off a win, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team would have secured a spot in the knockouts. Unfortunately, Pakistan faltered on the field, giving New Zealand multiple chances to score after captain Sophie Devine won the toss and opted to bat first.
New Zealand managed to post a modest total of 110/6 on a tricky pitch. Given the low target, Pakistan seemed to have a good chance of crossing the line. However, their batting collapsed spectacularly, getting bowled out for just 56 runs in 11.4 overs.
With this victory, New Zealand advanced to the semi-finals, while Pakistan’s loss sealed India’s elimination. Australia and New Zealand progressed from Group A, with the Aussies finishing on top with 8 points and New Zealand following with 6 points. India’s fate was essentially decided earlier in the tournament, as their defeat to New Zealand in the opening match left them with a narrow path to the semis.