Sunday , 22 December, 2024 | 8 পৌষ, 1431 Bangabdo
Published: 08:11 26 August 2024
Shahid Afridi cannot accept Pakistan's 10-wicket defeat in the home Test. He rightly credits Bangladesh for their remarkable performance on the final day, but questioned the hosts' plans and XI selection. The former Pakistan captain also criticized the PCB for the preparation of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch.
Bangladesh won the first Test of the series by 10 wickets on Sunday. This is Bangladesh's first win against Pakistan in 14 Tests. This is the first time that Pakistan has lost by 10 wickets on its soil.
At the start of the last day's play, the most likely result was a 'draw'. Pakistan opened the last day's batting with 23 for 1 in the second innings. However, Shan Masud's team was bowled out for 146 runs by Bangladesh's two spinning all-rounders, Mehdi Hasan Miraj and Shakib Al Hasan. With a lead of 117 runs in the first innings, the target for Bangladesh was only 30.
Pakistan fielded eleven of this match with four pacers. There was no specialist spinner. Criticizing the captain and team management, Afridi wrote on social media that Pakistan had no idea about the conditions. He did not forget to give credit to Bangladesh.
“A loss of 10 wickets calls into question the decision to prepare such a pitch, playing four fast bowlers and not keeping a specialist spinner. I can clearly see the lack of awareness about home conditions. At the same time, credit goes to them for the brand of cricket Bangladesh played throughout the Tests."
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