Pakistan Cricket Punished in Two Matches, Batting Left Exposed in World Cup 2015

There is an air of gloom over the Pakistani cricket team currently. After two shocking batting failures, the team has been left at the bottom of Pool B of World Cup 2015. The performances have been poor and the horrific statistics only add to the team's jarring wounds.

After their 76-run loss against arch-rivals India, Pakistan collapsed to a 150-run humiliation against West Indies at Christchurch on Saturday. This is the team's biggest margin of defeat - in terms of runs - in the history of World Cups. Their previous biggest loss was by 112 against England in the 2003 edition. What is most appaling though is that while chasing a target of 311, Pakistan lost four with just a run on board - the worst start by any team in ODI history.

So, is this the weakest Pakistani team in a World Cup ever?

Former captain Javed Miandad had already labeled the team as worst after the loss against defending champions India. "There seems to be a lack of planning from the Pakistan think-tank for such a mega event," he had been quoted as saying in media reports. "It's not a bilateral five-match ODI series in which the team can experiment in one or two matches."

Even former pacer Wasim Akram was appalled by what he saw at Christchurch on Saturday. "How can I support these guys? Where was the defense? The top-order should have seen a few overs before putting their plans into action," said Akram after the match.

The defeat against West Indies was Pakistan's third successive loss in World Cups - since the 29-run defeat against India at Mohali in the semifinals of World Cup 2011. The failure to mount even a semblance of a fight is more apparent from the fact that their 160 on a batting friendly Christchurch pitch was their lowest against West Indies in World Cups - their sixth lowest overall.  "It's not because other teams have got stronger, but because Pakistan has ignored more deserving players like Shoaib Malik, Azhar Ali and Zulfiqar Babar," Miandad had said earlier.

Is it then a question of getting back proven performers? Captain Misbah-ul-Haq feels the immediate concern is to lessen the damage from the two most recent defeats. "Losses like these (150-run defeat to West India) can be extremely damaging. We will need to find a way to come out of it and hit the ground running again," he said at the post-match ceremony.

The team next faces Zimbabwe on March 1 and UAE on March 4 before a clash against giants South Africa on March 7.

More stats from the Pakistan vs West Indies match:

* West Indies have registered their third biggest win in terms of runs at the World Cup - the top two being by 215 runs vs Netherlands at Delhi on February 28, 2011 and by 191 runs vs Sri Lanka at Karachi on October 13, 1987.

* West Indies' 150-run triumph is their biggest in terms of runs over Pakistan in ODIs, eclipsing the 133-run win at Sydney on December 17, 1992.

* In eleven opportunities in Australia and New Zealand, Pakistan have never successfully chased a total of 280 or more, losing all.  In response to New Zealand's 307 for eight at Wellington on January 17, 2004, they could make 303 - the highest by them.

* West Indies have won seven (the most by them against any nation) and lost three out of ten World Cup games played vs Pakistan - winning % 70.00.

* West Indies (310/6) have recorded their first total of 300-plus vs Pakistan at the World Cup - their fifth total of 300 or more in World Cups - one each vs Sri Lanka, England, Netherlands, Ireland and Pakistan.

* For the first time, two totals of 300 or more have been registered in a single edition of the World Cup for the West Indies (304 for seven vs Ireland and 310 for six Pakistan).

* West Indies' previous highest total vs Pakistan in World Cups was 293 for six off 60 overs at The Oval on June 20, 1979.

* West Indies have registered three totals of 300 or more vs Pakistan in ODIs - their highest being 339 for four at Adelaide on January 28, 2005.

* West Indies could make 115 for the loss of two wickets - the fifth occasion in this World Cup that the last ten overs produced 100-plus.

(Stats by Rajesh Kumar)