India vs Pakistan: Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur tries to deflect attention from defeat

Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur came up with a sharp reaction to Pakistan's humiliating defeat against India in the ODI World Cup 2023 on Saturday.

'I just think we were a little bit timid tonight with our overall performance. I would have liked us to really take the game on just a little bit more. It's a massive occasion, as we know. But I think we just went into our shells just a little bit and, you know, to go from 155 for two, if it was, to 190 odd all out is just not on. Credit to India, I thought they bowled really well, but I just thought our performance was just a little bit timid.'

However, he then tried to deflect attention from the defeat and felt that the partisan crowd also had an impact on Pakistan.

'It didn't seem like an ICC event tonight, let's be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series. It seemed like a BCCI event. I didn't hear 'Dil, Dil, Pakistan' coming through the microphones too often tonight. So yes, that does play a role, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse because for us it was about living the moment. It was about the next ball and it was about how we were going to combat the Indian players tonight.'

When asked if that was right for a World Cup and whether it should be allowed to happen, Arthur took another dig at the ICC.

'Look, I don't think, I can't comment on that just yet. I don't want to get fined.'

However, fans quickly realised that a frustrated Arthur was trying to deflect attention.

The Men in Green were humiliated in Ahmedabad as they were first bowled out for a mere 191. Rohit Sharma then led India's run-chase from the front with a fiery 86 as the hosts won the game in just 30.3 overs.

Pakistan has never beaten India in an ODI World Cup and the losing streak now stands at 8-0.