Watch: Abdullah Shafique Drops Usman Khawaja's Crucial Catch As Pakistan Bowlers Struggle 1st Test vs Australia
Updated - 14 Dec 2023, 03:17 PM
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Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique missed a rare catching chance, granting Australian batsman Usman Khawaja a reprieve on Day 1 of the first Test. Shafique’s dropped catch denied debutant pacer Aamir Jamal the chance to claim his maiden wicket in Test cricket.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins chose to bat after winning the toss at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Thursday, December 16. The visitors struggled to make an impact with the ball, allowing David Warner and Usman Khawaja to form a formidable opening partnership.
The Pakistan team fielded four pacers, including two debutants, Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shahzad. Warner displayed aggressive batting, reaching a quickfire fifty in his farewell Test series, while Khawaja, on the other hand, maintained a solid presence at the crease.
Watch – Abdullah Shafique Drops Usman Khawaja’s Catch
The Shan Masood-led team had a chance to dismiss Usman Khawaja in the 16th over, as Aamir Jamal induced a top edge from the opener. Khawaja mistimed his shot, causing the ball to loop behind him. Shafique, positioned in the slip cordon, struggled to grab the opportunity.
The Pakistan opener attempted to move backward to secure the catch but struggled to track the ball’s trajectory. Unfortunately, the ball slipped through the gap between his outstretched palms and body. Additionally, the ball bounced away and went for a boundary.
Abdullah Shafique dropped easy one ! You can’t do this in Australia
Big opportunity missed ??#PAKvsAUS|| #PSL9Draft#warner #Khuwaja pic.twitter.com/K3Qm42ymmb
— Dr.M.Tahir (@dr_tahiryousuf) December 14, 2023
Pakistan’s Performance In Previous Australian Tour in 2019-20
During the last Australian tour in 2019/20, Pakistan faced one of their most humiliating Test series defeats, with innings defeats in a two-match series. In the series opener at Brisbane, Pakistan posted a total of 240 in the first innings. The Australians dominated, scoring 580 and eventually dismissing Pakistan for 335 in the second innings.
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Aamir Jamal Abdullah Shafique Australia National Cricket Team Pakistan national cricket team Usman Khawaja
