Irfan Pathan feels an unsettled middle-order cost India the 2019 ODI World Cup, with the former all-rounder asserting that the Men in Blue have all the resources available but needs to plan better heading into the ICC tournaments.
India lost to New Zealand by 22 runs in the World Cup semi-finals last year after the top and the middle-order failed to score when it was needed the most.
In recent years, India have underperformed in the marquee events. India last won an ICC trophy in 2013, when a Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side defeated England in a thrilling final to clinch the Champions Trophy.
Irfan Pathan wants better planning before ICC events
The former India international participated in Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected and insisted that the Men in Blue should plan better before ICC tournaments.
“We need to make sure that we have better planning going into the ICC trophies, going into the World Cup.”
Irfan Pathan further emphasized that the Indian team have all the resources to be champions but need better planning before participating in ICC tournaments.
“If we have better planning, we have all the resources to be a champion.”
2019 ODI World Cup was bad planning
Irfan Pathan, who was a part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning side, feels the country not winning the 2019 ODI World Cup was due to poor planning.
“If you look at the recent 2019 tournament, it was bad planning. We have resources, we have players, we have fitness, we have everything to be a world champion. The only thing lacking is that we did not have a number four batsman just before the World Cup as well. We were struggling with having a proper eleven.”
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