Keeping the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final controversy aside, it was a rather close match, and at one stage, Salman Ali Agha’s team were firm favorites to win. Chasing 147, India were reduced to 20/3, with the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav falling early. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma took the the team to 77, but the former was then removed, leaving India reeling with four wickets down.
Pakistan Succumb Under Pressure in Asia Cup Final
From there on, it was Pakistan’s match to lose. After the match, former pacer Shoaib Akhtar gave a piece of his mind to head coach Mike Hesson. In batting, the side was poor, after being bundled out for 146, after being 113/1 at one stage. “It is the fault of the management that is not thinking right. Talking about senseless coaching, I would probably say. I probably – I am going to, sorry to say these kinds of harsh words, but it’s senseless coaching,” Akhtar said on Tapmad.
Again, Akhtar, who has been critical of Pakistan’s selection, further expressed his opinion on the players who missed out. “Again, the match-winner Hasan Nawaz, and then we have Salman Mirza not playing. Again, it became a little difficult. We are very disappointed, very hurt. It was a Super Sunday, and the whole nation was watching, but our middle order is already a problem.
Shoaib Akhtar Slams Coach, Captain
“You know it, I know it, we all keep saying our top three batsmen in the middle are a problem. And obviously, if you are asking too much from Mohammad Nawaz, and again, when Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf have to bat ahead, it’s questionable. Again, you expect the lower order to add 50 more runs, so we reach 175 – there are too many errors. Too many mistakes,” he added.
Akhtar was also critical of Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy, for giving an over to Haris Rauf, when the spinners were causing trouble to the batters. “Captaincy is questionable. Bowling changes – when the batters are struggling facing spinners, there was no need to bring in Haris Rauf, he leaked 17 runs in an over which was not the need. There are many reasons we lost, but again, it’s okay. It’s fine,” he added.
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