AUS vs PAK: Shoaib Akhtar Rips Into Babar Azam & Co. For Poor Fielding Against Australia
Published - 20 Oct 2023, 10:17 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:00 AM
Shoaib Akhtar did not mince his words as he came up with a brutal assessment of Pakistan???s horrible fielding performance against Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Australia???s openers took Pakistan bowlers to the cleaners and the latter???s cause was not helped by their teammates??? poor fielding. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh scored quickfire centuries and shared a huge stand of 259 runs for the first wicket in less than 34 overs.
Shaheen Afridi broke the stand when he dismissed Marsh for 121 runs. Warner, on the other hand, scored 163 runs off 124 balls with the help of 14 fours and 9 sixes. And as Australia were heading towards a huge score, Pakistan???s fielders made sure to play their part.
Warner was batting on just 10 when Usama Mir dropped the easiest of catches. In the fifth over of the game, the southpaw top-edged a delivery from Shaheen Afridi to present an easy catch to Usama at mid-on. However, the leg-spinner, playing his first game in the ongoing World Cup, ended up dropping the catch. Warner made the most of the reprieve.
Shoaib Akhtar on Pakistan???s poor fielding:
Mir dropped Warner again in the 33rd over when he was batting on 101 runs. Pakistan captain Babar Azam also failed to lead from the front as he dropped Steve Smith. Fortunately for him, Smith did not last long and was out for just 7. As the Pakistani fielders struggled on the field, Shoaib Akhtar took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent his frustration.
Expressing his frustration, the former cricketer wrote: ???As it is, you???re not able to create opportunities. Atleast grab the ones which batters are giving. Come on guys, you cant drop so many catches!!!!!!???
As it is, you're not able to create opportunities. Atleast grab the ones which batters are giving.
Come on guys, you cant drop so many catches!!!!!!
Pakistan managed to pull things back a bit towards the end and restricted Australia to 367 for 9. Shaheen Afridi impressed with the ball, taking 5 for 54 off his ten overs. In reply, Pakistan have started well with the bat. At the time of writing this report, they were on 134 for 1 in the 22nd over.
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AUS vs PAK Australia National Cricket Team ICC World Cup 2023 Pakistan national cricket team Shoaib Akhtar
