Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has expressed disappointment at the way by which some middle-order batters threw their wickets away within the T20 World Cup 2022 match towards India on Sunday, October 23.
Giving the instance of how Virat Kohli batted for India, he lamented that Pakistan’s batters didn’t tempo their innings as per the calls for of the scenario.
Team India beat Pakistan by 4 wickets in an exciting Super 12 encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Sent in to bat after shedding the toss, Pakistan had been 91/2 within the thirteenth over. However, some poor shot choice from the center order noticed them stumble to 120/7. They ultimately completed on 159/8.
While reflecting on the dismissals of Pakistan’s middle-order batters, Malik pointed to the way by which Kohli deliberate the chase. Praising the Indian batter, he advised A Sports:
“Look at Virat’s sixes. He was striking those at the end as if he is a power-hitter, which he is not. But the amount of balls he faced, he had an idea of what the bowlers were doing and how the pitch was behaving.”
The Pakistan all-rounder was notably dissatisfied with the way of Haider Ali’s dismissal, who was caught off Hardik Pandya whereas enjoying a cross-batted swat.
Claiming Haider fell right into a lure, the 40-year-old elaborated:
“For the new batter, short midwicket was coming up a bit. It was their plan to bowl a particular length to him (Haider) and send midwicket back, where the catch was taken. At that point, strike rotation was the requirement. That way, you can understand the wicket and get an idea of what lengths the bowlers are bowling. You can get set that way.”
Haider was dismissed for 2 off 4 balls. His wicket left Pakistan in large hassle at 98/5.
“Others teams are watching” – Wasim Akram feels upcoming video games may very well be robust for Pakistan batters
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram additionally hit out at Haider and Asif Ali for failing to enhance their batting. Criticizing the duo for his or her lack of planning, Akram commented:
“Every crew has a plan after which each cricketer additionally has a person plan. There was a set batter in Shan Masood batting with him (Haider Ali). He might have rotated the strike for one over after which had a go.
“That’s a disappointment. Haider Ali has got talent, but fielding is also average and Asif Ali is struggling. A medium pacer bowled a bouncer and he didn’t know what to do.”
The Pakistan legend added that different groups would have watched their dismissals towards India and would plan accordingly. Akram elaborated:
“Others teams are watching this game. They have got the data analysis. They won’t bowl a fuller length to these guys. Speaking of the shot that Haider played, he had seen the kind of strokes Ifti (Iftikhar Ahmed) played and also saw how Shan was batting. But he played that cross-batted heave and came back.”
Chasing 160, India received dwelling off the final ball courtesy of an excellent knock by Kohli (82* off 53).
Discussion about this post