Last Update on: November 12th, 2021 at 04:57 pm
Join our Telegram channel and never miss a single lineup change post-toss. 🔄📢
Legendary Indian player Sunil Gavaskar said that Hasan Ali was the weak link for Pakistan. On Thursday, Pakistan lost to Australia by five wickets in the second semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan (67) and Fakhar Zaman (55*) propelled them to a competitive score of 176/4 in the first innings.
Babar Azam started well, getting to 39 off 34 balls before holing out to David Warner at long-on off Adam Zampa’s bowling that ended his 71-run stand with Rizwan.
Coming into defending their total, Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan bowled a brilliant spell of 4/26 from his four overs to reduce Australia to 96/5 at one stage.
Hasan Ali dropped Matthew Wade before the destruction
It was Australian wicket-keeper Matthew Wade and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who scripted a marvellous chase with their uneaten partnership of 81 to enter the final.
After the 17th over, Wade shifted his gears and smoked one big shot to Hasan Ali over long-on for a six, then flicked a boundary on the final ball of the 18th over.
Wade was dropped by Hasan Ali just before he hammered three consecutive sixes to Pakistan’s best bowler Shaheen Afridi to wrap the match in the penultimate over itself.
Hasan Ali also went expensive with his bowling as he ended up conceding 44 runs from his four overs.
Earlier as well during the tournament, Hasan Ali had misfielded
Gavaskar pointed how Hasan had fielded for Pakistan in early games, and he became one of the reasons for their loss against Australia in the semis.
“Even good fielders drop catches under pressure. But Hasan Ali was the weak link in the Pakistan team. He didn’t bowl well, and one is not really sure about his batting ability,” Gavaskar told Aaj Tak.
Pakistan had won all five group stage matches to top the points table of Group 2.