Pakistan worked hard to ensure average performance in 2nd ODI: Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar was furious at the national team’s below-par performance with the bat in the second ODI against England. The hosts posted a total of 247 in 50 overs, with opener Philip Salt (60) the top scorer. Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers, accounting for a five-wicket haul. In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 195 with Saud Shakeel (56) the only batsman making his presence felt.

“It is going to be 3-0”

Akhtar believes that the batsmen could have negotiated the lateral and seam movements, in a more appropriate manner.

“Although it was just run-a-ball and what was there in that bowling for you to have so much difficulty. The ball nibbles around a little, that itself is a lot for you. A very very average performance. It has not yet happened. It is going to be 3-0. Pakistan worked hard to make sure they give an average performance. The Pakistan batting has always let us down and the same trend continues now also. No one enjoys criticizing anyone. But tell me, which kid will start playing cricket after watching this team? The PCB’s plan is that no one should watch or follow cricket and they don’t have to spend anything,” stated the former Pakistan cricketer.

Akhtar further termed Pakistan as a team that is only fit to play T20 cricket.

“What was there in the wicket, first tell me that. Pakistan is only a T20 team. They play like T20 and get out like that. They lose five wickets in twenty overs. In T20s also, they score 150-175 and exactly the same in ODIs,” he added.

“Pakistan team is trying to play T20 cricket”

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq similarly slammed the national team for attempting to play T20 cricket in an ODI encounter.

“Pakistan team is trying to play T20 cricket. They were going for big hits and were not rotating the strike. Pakistan played 151 dot balls and yet they didn’t bat 50 overs. Fakhar scored only 8 runs in 50 balls, so a bowler is bound to create pressure on you. Every batsman is playing four dot balls and then going for a hit. You need to rotate strike and give time to yourself in ODIs otherwise you will only score 150 or 190,” said Inzamam in a video on his Youtube channel.

The former Pakistan skipper however lauded the temperament of Shakeel, who scored his maiden ODI fifty.

“Saud Shakeel was playing proper ODI cricket. He didn’t score at a high strike-rate but I found him confident and he scored under pressure, which is a good sign for Pakistan cricket. There are areas in which he can still improve, but his confidence and technique are very good,” concluded Inzamam.

“Don’t understand how one can defend it”

Ex-Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja similarly had words of criticism, terming the series defeat as a shocking thing.

“If you map this series defeat on the Richter scale, the value of shock will clock fifteen. It’s a massive blow and I don’t understand how one can defend it. It’s England’s No.2 team, in terms of talent,” said Raja in a video on his Youtube channel.

“The performance isn’t defendable. If the alarm bells don’t ring now, I don’t know when they will. It’s a World Cup year, though it’s a T20 World Cup, and such headlines are unbearable for Pakistan fans,” he added.