Pakistan lost the three-match Test series 0-1 to Australia.
Chasing 351 to win in the fourth innings, the hosts got bowled out for 235 to lose the match by a massive margin of 115 runs.
Following the series loss, the Pakistan fans lashed out at their team and the PCB for being defensive in their approach throughout the series.
The pitches served for the Test series drew criticism from all quarters. The first two Tests ended in draws with the first game in Rawalpindi causing major debate for the dull nature of the pitch. Thanks to a valiant batting effort in the final innings, the home team managed to salvage a draw in the second Test in Karachi.
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar too slammed the cricket board and the team management for their timid approach in the series, while he praised the visitors for being “brave.”
“Absolutely disappointing series, this. Absolute nonsense. The mindset of both, the Pakistan Cricket Board and probably the team management was to draw this series. Neither they should win, nor us; just end this series in a draw,” Akhtar said on his official YouTube channel.
“But hats off to Australians. I'm genuinely happy for them. This is not their home, none of these players played in Pakistan before; they came here and play brave cricket. The bowlers didn't know when the ball reverses in such conditions but both, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins put in the hard hours to learn the skills of the trade here. Nathan Lyon, who hasn't toured Pakistan yet, took a five-wicket haul.”
Further criticizing the PCB, Shoaib Akhtar called for a change of personnel in the higher decision-making roles.
“See, when you are lacking courage and only trying to escape, the results are like this. They came here after 24 years and they expected you to prepare good wickets. But you didn't do that. You tried to wear them down. The opposite has happened. It's the wrong approach, wrong mindset. We should bring in people who are not mediocre and take right decisions. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen in Pakistan,” he remarked.
Both the teams will now lock horns in a white-ball series, comprising three ODIs and a T20I match.