‘Go to the Pool, Relax. Don’t Touch Social Media’: Ex-Captain Suggests How PAK Can Bounce Back vs SL – News18

After a gut-wrenching loss at the hands of India, Pakistan to face reigning champions Sri Lanka in their last Super Four game at the Asia Cup 2023 on Thursday. It’s a do-or-die situation encounter as the losing side will head back home while the winners will meet Rohit Sharma & Co in the grand finale on Sunday.

Both teams have had a great run in the ongoing continental event until they were defeated by India earlier this week. India hammered Pakistan by 228 runs on Monday before outsmarting the Lankans by 41 runs in a low-scoring affair. However, the intensities of both matches were poles apart. Sri Lanka fought neck-to-neck with India before failing to cross the finish line. But Pakistan seemed to have accepted the defeat in their minds much before the game yielded a result.

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Pakistan has further dealt a massive blow with Naseem Shah getting ruled out of the Asia Cup. But former captain Ramiz Raja still has hopes for Babar Azam & Co as they will be back in action after a 2-day break.

Speaking in his latest YouTube video, Raja suggested that Pakistan need not think about winning or losing the next game. Rather, they should focus on team bonding and gelling better with each other.

“India have given Pakistan a ray of hope with the win over Sri Lanka. Now we’ve to see if Pakistan can take benefit from that, or whether they will be low on spirits because of the defeat against India. They need some time off the game, they have to be mentally switched off, and they got a reserve day. They’ve got a good two-day rest period where they shouldn’t think of cricket or the defeat but get together and talk,” said Ramiz on his official YouTube channel.

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“If anyone needs special practice, they can take it. Go to the pool, relax. Don’t touch social media, don’t watch television channels. There won’t be anything good there because the entire Pakistan is disappointed. Get united. You point fingers at each other after such defeats, that too against India. That shouldn’t happen. I’m sure Babar as am has united this team really well, and his work is to assure his players and get the team high in spirit ahead of the Sri Lanka clash,” he added.