ENG v PAK 2021: "I would've sacked the management," Akhtar upset over Pakistan's decision to bowl first

Pakistan lost the second T20I against England by 45 runs.

Pakistan cricket team | GETTY

England won the second T20I against Pakistan by 45 runs to level the three-match series at 1-1. On Sunday (July 18), Jos Buttler's 59-run knock and Saqib Mahmood's three wickets helped England make a comeback after the loss in the first T20I. 

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar was furious over the Pakistan cricket team even before the match was over. He took to Twitter during the first innings and posted a video slamming Pakistan captain Babar Azam and the team management.

Akhtar was not happy with Pakistan's decision to bowl first after winning the toss on a sunny day. He captioned the post, "Such a poor decision by captain & the management by bowling 1st on a great batting pitch it’s beyond me just speechless".

 

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The 45-year-old felt Pakistan had a good opportunity to bat first and give themselves maximum chance to seal the series 2-0. "Toss jeetke Pakistan ne faisla karliya hai fielding ka....Mujhe samajh nai aarahi Yorkshire mein jab itni doop padh rahi ho, aap 232 karke aaye hain, toh aap bowling kar rahe hain....(Pakistan have opted to bowl first. I can't understand when this is a sunny day, and you guys scored 232/6 in the series opener, then why would you choose to bowl first? That too, when Jos Buttler is making a comeback and will open today)."

"Woh bhi jab aaj Buttler khel rahe hain. I hope I am wrong, but this will be a 200-plus score. Pakistan have a great opportunity to win the series today on a flat surface. I hope I am wrong. But had I been the PCB chairman, I would've sacked the management and captain for taking such a poor decision of winning the toss and bowling first and losing the series because of it."

Eventually, Akhtar's words turned out to be true as Pakistan were restricted to 155/9 while chasing England's total of 200 runs. Chasing 201, Pakistan got off to a decent start by openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan who put on 50 runs.

However, soon England reduced Pakistan to 71/2 in the 9th over. The visitors found themselves in big trouble when half of the side was back to the pavilion on just 95 runs. They eventually lost the match by 45 runs.

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 19 Jul, 2021

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