Why Pakistan cannot beat India in World Cup matches?

Angry Pakistani fans take to streets and burn TV sets

‘Billion dollar’ question as to why Pakistan cannot beat India in World Cup matches

Pakistan's jinx against India at cricket World Cup continued on Sunday with their heavy defeat in Adelaide, making it 6-0 in favour of India and prompting angry Pakistani fans to take to streets and burn TV sets.

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India's arch-rivals has now lost to India for the sixth time in 50 over ODI World Cup, besides having been beaten thrice in the Twenty20 World Cups, prompting commentators to ask if Pakistan had a ‘mental block’.

The first time India and Pakistan met in a World Cup match was in 1992 when they beat their bitter rivals by 43 runs in Sydney.

In 1996 World Cup, India beat Pakistan by 39 runs in Bangalore, while three years later, they again got the better off their rivals with a 47-run win in Manchester.

Maintaining their stranglehold, India under captain Sourav Ganguly beat their neighbours by six wickets in the 2003 World Cup in Centurion. In 2011, the 1983 Champions hosted the quadrennial event and the hosts beat Pakistan by 29 runs in Mohali.

India made it 6-0 in 50 overs World Cup on Sunday by thrashing them by 76 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

India also dominated Pakistan in T20 World Cups with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men defeating their rivals by five runs in the 2007 edition in Johannesburg.

In 2012, India once again had the upper hand against Pakistan as they notched up a eight wicket win in Colombo, while in 2014 they won by seven wickets in Dhaka.

Pakistani fans took to streets and set TV sets on fire to give vent to their anger against yet another loss to India.

After the win, former India captain Ganguly said it was a commendable performance by the Indians to keep their unbeaten World Cup track record intact.

Ganguly said the Indians have not only maintained their supremacy in the 50 over cricket in World Cup but also in Twenty20 versions.

Talking about the pressure of playing Pakistan in a World Cup match, Virat Kohli, who was adjudged the Man of the Match for his 107, said, "The last couple of days have been tough. Too many people in the hotel getting worked over. You just have to stay in your little space."

Former South African cricketer Jhonty Rhodes, who himself has featured in four World Cups, said it is a ‘billion dollar’ question as to why Pakistan cannot beat India in World Cup matches.

"We (South Africa) have never reached the final ... It's not a single factor. Why Pakistan is not able to beat India is a billion dollar question," he said.

Pakistan's 1992 World Cup wining captain, Imran Khan found fault in team combination and said a specialist wicket-keeper should have been picked.

Batting great Zaheer Abbas felt that Pakistan committed too many mistakes on the field and also while selecting the team.

"Pakistan committed too many mistakes. Younis Khan should not have been sent as an opener and they should not have dropped Sarfraz Ahmed and made Umar Akmal keep wickets," he said.

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also expressed happiness that India could maintain their unbeaten record against Pakistan.

Asked about Shahid Afridi's potential, Harbhajan said: "He is a potential bomb which can be dangerous when it falls in your courtyard but he mostly falls in his courtyard."

Former Pakistan opener Mohsin Khan said that there was no planning by the Pakistanis unlike Indians who planned well for the match.