Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar has come down hard on the Pakistan batting after the team suffered a three-wicket defeat at the hands of England in the first match of the 3-Test series in Manchester.
Blaming the batsmen for their lackluster approach, especially in the second innings, Akhtar said that the reckless shots and lack of partnerships were the reasons for Pakistan’s defeat.
“Pakistan had a chance to put a big target but made the same mistake (that they have been making) since Partition. The batting let us down. We had a lead of more than 100 runs and batsmen should have capitalized on it. But the batsmen failed to stitch partnerships,” he said in his YouTube show.
“Shan Masood was unlucky but he had already played his part. Asad Shafiq got run out, it is again his fault. But Babar Azam has to come out with something good because you cannot create a name like this. You might be a good player, but you have to establish yourself as a match-winner,” said Shoaib.
Shoaib Akhtar calls Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling action ‘difficult’, says he can’t play in all formats
“If lead had not been there, then we were dismissed for just 150-175. You have to think what you have to do as a batsman, this is really disappointing,” he concluded.
Pakistan made 326 batting first in Old Trafford with Shan Masood hitting a career-best 156. England folded for 219 in their first do, giving Pakistan a lead of 107 runs. But England bowlers hit back, bowling out Pakistan for 169 in the second innings, giving their batters a target of 277 runs to win.
Akhtar was also critical of how young Naseem Shah was more focused on bowling length.
“When Chris Woakes came out to bat why didn’t he pitch it short and hit on his head, make him feel uncomfortable so that chances would come. This is lack of aggression,” he said.
England was left 117/5 in the chase, but Jos Buttler (75) and Chris Woakes (84*) added 139 runs for the sixth wicket and the hosts completed their 10th highest successful Test run chase. Yasir Shah picked eight wickets in the match for the visitors.
