Afridi blasts Pakistan's selection and bowling in loss to USA
Asher Butt
Shahid Afridi, the former explosive batsman and captain of Pakistan, has strongly criticized the team's performance in their shocking T20 World Cup defeat to the USA.
Super over blunder
Afridi, speaking on his YouTube channel, highlighted a crucial mistake in the Super Over. He believes Pakistan erred by choosing Iftikhar Ahmed, a right-handed batsman, to face the left-arm fast bowler in the first delivery. Afridi argued that Fakhar Zaman, a left-hander, would have been a better matchup due to the bowling angle.
Amir's expensive over
Afridi also expressed disappointment with Mohammad Amir's bowling in the Super Over. He acknowledged Amir's overall performance but criticized him for conceding extra runs, including avoidable wides. He felt Amir, an experienced bowler known for his yorkers, should have executed better considering the helpful reverse swing conditions.
Babar acknowledges missed opportunities
Pakistan captain Babar Azam, during the post-match presentation, admitted to shortcomings in their batting performance. He pinpointed the team's lack of intent in the powerplay overs and their inability to build partnerships as key areas of concern. He echoed similar sentiments regarding the bowling, acknowledging their struggles in the first six overs and the lack of wicket-taking from the spinners during the middle overs.
Crediting USA and looking ahead
Babar Azam ultimately conceded defeat and praised the USA team for their superior performance across all aspects of the game. He acknowledged the slightly damp pitch conditions that offered some uneven bounce, but emphasized that professional players need to adapt to varying circumstances.
Pakistan's next challenge is a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals India on June 9th in New York. Afridi's scathing critique adds to the pressure on the team as they look to bounce back from this unexpected setback and salvage their World Cup campaign.
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