ENG vs PAK: Former Pakistan cricketers Ramiz Raja and Shoaib Akhtar have lashed out at the team after they succumbed to a disappointing series defeat against England. The hosts, who fielded nine debutants after losing their first team due to a coronavirus outbreak registered convincing wins in both the ODIs against a near full-strength Pakistan outfit. The manner of defeats have caused a furore among fans and pundits alike who slammed the performances of the Babar Azam led side.
Pakistan conceded the three-match ODI series to a depleted England side, losing the second game by 52 runs. Chasing 248 runs to win 47 overs, Pakistan fell for a paltry 197, failing to cross 200 in each of their games on the tour. In the first ODI, the visitors were bowled out for just 141, which England chased down with more than 28 overs to spare.
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ENG vs PAK: Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar slammed the Pakistan team and suggested that the performance was “very average” and had some stern words for the team management. The Rawalpindi Express in his latest video said, “Although it was just run-a-ball and what was there in that bowling for you to have so much difficulty. The ball nibbles around a little, that itself is a lot for you. A very very average performance. ”
Shoaib Akhtar further added that Pakistan played like a “T20 team” and predicted that the Babar Azam led side will lose the series 3-0. Akhtar said, “What was there on the wicket, first tell me that. Pakistan is only a T20 team. They play like T20 and get out like that. They lost five wickets in twenty overs. In T20s also, they score 150-175 and exactly the same in ODIs.” The former fast bowler said that the batting has always let them down and the trend continued this series, and further lambasted them suggesting that they did not have enough quality to inspire future generations.
ENG vs PAK: Meanwhile, Ramiz Raja also did not hold back in his criticism and labelled the performance as shocking considering that Pakistan are not facing a first-choice England outfit. In his latest YouTube video, Raja said, “If you map this series defeat on the Richter scale, the value of shock will clock fifteen. It’s a massive blow and I don’t understand how one can defend it. It’s England’s No.2 team, in terms of talent.”
Raja had earlier called the Ben Stokes led England side a “glorified county team” and Pakistan were labelled as favourites, but the hosts have significantly outplayed the visitors. He added, “The performance isn’t defendable. If the alarm bells don’t ring now, I don’t know when they will. It’s a World Cup year, though it’s a T20 World Cup, and such headlines are unbearable for Pakistan fans.”
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