Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur admitted his side’s failed World Cup campaign left him with mixed feeling as they crashed out despite beating Bangladesh by 94 runs on Friday.
To reach the semi-finals, Pakistan needed to rewrite the record books with the biggest margin of victory in a one-day international.
But they came up short as their 315-9 meant Bangladesh had to be bowled out for just eight at Lord’s.
That impossible task was quickly put to bed as Bangladesh reached eight runs in the second over, allowing New Zealand to join Australia, India and England into the semi-finals.
Pakistan secured 11 points in nine games, as many as New Zealand scored, but were ousted on an inferior net run-rate.
Arthur, whose contract with Pakistan ends after the tournament, said it was a disappointing conclusion to a campaign that had plenty of highs and lows.
“It hasn’t ended as we would have liked to have ended it. It’s been a campaign of ifs and buts,” Arthur told reporters.
“If we have a look through our first five games and we have a look through our last five, it’s a campaign of two halves, which has been disappointing.”
Pakistan had just one win, against hosts England, from five games with three defeats, including a loss to arch-rivals India, and a no-result.
