‘Sharam karo bachon ko bully karte hue’: Pakistanis mock own team with memes after another loss to India | Cricket News

New Delhi: For Pakistan, things started well on Sunday in Dubai. In the must-win match of the Champions Trophy, against India no less, Pakistan got the toss right, chose to bat and then began well. Babar Azam struck the ball neatly and sweetly off the middle of the bat. Mohammed Shami needed 11 balls to complete his first over. And then the seamer, who took a fifer against Bangladesh, went off the field with an injury. So far, so good.
In this moment of joy, albeit short-lived, Pakistani social media users expressed positive outlook towards the game. They believed it was the start of what would be consecutive wins for Pakistan over India in Champions Trophy history.
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One user said there was “no intensity, shoulders are already down in the second over” of the Indian team. Another chimed in saying there was “no line and length from both the pacers,” referring, perhaps, to Harshit Rana.
The euphoria for Pakistan didn’t last long. Babar Azam, aka King Bobby, was dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the ninth over after eking an outside edge which carried comfortably to KL Rahul.

Imam-ul-Haq followed soon after, found short of the non-striker’s end with an Axar Patel bullet of a throw, while trying to force a run that didn’t exist.

A user reminded that wides made a bigger contribution to the Pakistan cause than Imam himself.
With both Babar and Imam back in the pavilion, and both already under pressure, a user shared a meme of the duo and their apparent deal over who will take the large share of responsibility for criticism.

In the middle overs, India applied the brakes even as Pakistan continued without losing a wicket. Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan forged a 104-run stand for the third wicket.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, though, the flow of runs had dried up. At the 33rd over mark, Pakistan were 150/2 for a miserable scoring rate of 4.54. With their backs against the wall, skipper Rizwan perished to Axar Patel, to spark a collapse.

People wondered if Rizwan remembered he was not just the captain but also a batter in the team.
From 151/2 after 33.1 overs, Pakistan would suddenly move to 165/5 in 36.1 overs – three wickets in 14 runs from 18 balls. After Rizwan, Saud Shakeel and Tayyab Tahir walked back quickly.
Not long after, Kuldeep Yadav took two-in-two, had an unsuccessful hat-trick attempt, but it was enough to force Pakistan further back. Salman Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi bowed out on successive deliveries.

A fan pointed out that Pakistan had more dots than runs by the 25 over mark.
Pakistan ended their innings on a modest 241 runs and India, who boast of a strong batting lineup, gave fans of the Men in Green little chance to be hopeful.

With Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma opening the innings, India were quick to get off the mark and didn’t take long in finding the boundaries. Rohit Sharma slammed Naseem Shah for a six in the second over. For context, it took Pakistan 42 overs to find their first maximum of the day. A stat not lost on the social media users.

As with many social media users, any moment can turn despair to hope and vice versa. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s cracking yorker to dismiss Rohit Sharma was one such moment. As the India captain walked back, there was renewed hope. Suddenly, 242 looked challenging.
Once again, the hope was short-lived. India continued to bat smoothly with Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. It didn’t help that chances went begging in the field. Gill survived after a pull shot was put down. Later, Shreyas Iyer was given life as well.

India went past the finish line with a Virat Kohli boundary and a century to boot. Pakistani fans, expectedly, were heartbroken. Yet, they kept their humour in check while poking fun at their team.
One fan said they were helpless and couldn’t be saved from the “torment” that was cricket. However, he urged people to make their children watch football instead and “let this sport go to the graveyard with us”.

Another urged India to feel ashamed for bullying kids and focus on Australia instead.

For some users, this was yet another reminder that Pakistan and India are not on the same level anymore.
“Pakistan players are mediocre and have no comparison with Indian cricketers. Gone are the days when Pakistan produced quality stuff. The current bunch of players at best can represent any club but not the highest level of the game.”

Expectedly, there were also calls to get rid of some members in the team. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan appeared high in the order of “boycotts.”

Amid all the talks of on-field cricket and the rivalry that goes with it, there was also a heartwarming moments when Kohli patted Azam’s back. A user called it “vibing like cousins.”

Kohli also won hearts for tying the shoe-laces of Naseem Shah, who occupied the crease at a time.

As far as the tournament is concerned, Pakistan are on the cusp of an exit with two defeats in two played. Their fate now belongs on the other teams in the group – India, Bangladesh and New Zealand. India, meanwhile, are all but assured of progressing with consecutive wins.