Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has lashed out at the Pakistan cricket team after their humiliating loss against Zimbabwe in their 20-20 World Cup Group 2 match on Thursday. After electing to bat first, Zimbabwe struggled to bat against the hostile pace attack of Pakistan and could only manage to score 130/8 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply to Zimbabwe’s total, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals throughout their innings and eventually fell one run short of Zimbabwe’s total handing them a famous win.
Akhtar was disappointed with the team’s tactics and heavily criticised Babar Azam for his poor captaincy.
“I don’t know why is it so hard for you guys to understand. I have said this before, and I am saying it again with our top and middle order, we can’t achieve big success. We can’t win consistently. Pakistan have a bad captain. Pakistan are out of the World Cup. Nawaz has bowled the last over in the three games we have lost,” Akhtar said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.
Pakistan lost their captain in the fourth over of the innings. They further lost star batter Mohammad Rizwan in the very next over to make their start a miserable one. Shan Masood tried to stabilise the innings with his knock of 44 off 38 but Sikandar Raza’s brilliant spell in the middle brought Zimbabwe back into the match.
Akhtar further highlighted several flaws in Pakistan’s campaign and suggested Babar Azam to change his batting position.
“Babar should bat one down. Major flaw in Shaheen Shah Afridi’s fitness. Major flaw in the captaincy, and major flaws in the management. We will back you but what brand of cricket are you playing? You can’t just walk into a tournament and expect that the opposition will let you win,” he added.
Sikandar Raza was awarded Player of the Match for his spell of 3/25 in 4 overs
The match went down to the last over where Pakistan needed 11 runs to win having four wickets in hand. Brad Evans was given the responsibility to take his team home. Pakistan had a great start to the over scoring seven runs off the first two balls but Evans pulled it back by dismissing Mohammad Nawaz on the second last ball with Pakistan still needing three runs for victory. Shaheen Afridi faced the final ball and played it straight down the ground which was fielded by Sikandar Raza at mid-on.
There was more drama as the Wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva failed to collect the ball in the first attempt but held his nerve to dislodge the bails before Afridi could reach the crease. The run-out led to a wild celebration by Zimbabwe players who have been having a great run in the tournament so far.
Pakistan will take on the Netherlands in their next Super 12 fixture on Sunday. However, a defeat could end their T20 World Cup campaign.
