Pakistan's team director, Mickey Arthur, has cautioned against launching a "witch-hunt" on his team following a significant setback to their World Cup aspirations. This setback occurred when Pakistan suffered a potentially devastating one-wicket loss to South Africa, marking their fourth defeat in six matches in India.
To secure a spot in the semi-finals, Pakistan now faces the daunting task of winning their remaining three matches and relying on favorable outcomes from other games.
Arthur expressed concern about the likelihood of scapegoating individuals, acknowledging that it's a common reaction in such situations. He emphasized the unfairness of initiating a witch-hunt, particularly targeting key figures like captain Babar Azam, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq (referred to as 'Inzi'), coaches, and the management team.
Arthur defended the unwavering dedication and hard work put in by both the players and the coaching staff, stressing that their commitment has been exceptional. He suggested that if people could witness the immense effort invested by the players and staff, they would be truly impressed.
Initially, Pakistan, once ranked as the world's number one ODI team, enjoyed a strong start in the tournament with two consecutive victories.
However, their fortunes took a downturn, with successive losses to arch-rivals India, Australia, and Afghanistan, culminating in their recent defeat to South Africa.