“Club cricketers are better than Pakistan players”: Legendary wicket-keeper
Legendary Pakistan wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal has launched a scathing attack on the national team after their 10-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the first Test in Rawalpindi. The hosts were dismissed for 146 in the second innings, giving a target of 30 runs to Bangladesh.
Jason Gillespie, who was recently appointed as head coach of the Test team, started his stint with a defeat. On the other hand, Shan Masood is still waiting for his first win as a captain in red-ball cricket. Australia thumped Pakistan by 3-0 in Masood’s first series. Pakistan won a Test match at home in 2021.
Kamran Akmal has hit out at the players for their performances, which included a defeat against Zimbabwe and a group-stage exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after losing to the United States of America (USA) and India.
“Pakistan would have lost by an innings if Rizwan had not scored a 50 in the second essay. You haven’t improved in the last five years—defeat to Zimbabwe, Poor performance in the Asia Cup, and T20 World Cup. Players have made a mockery of Pakistan cricket,” Akmal said.
Akmal criticized the technique of the players. “Bangladesh were going through a tough time, but their batters scored runs. They won the game for their team. Bangladesh exposed Pakistan. Our batters batted like club cricketers. In fact, even club cricketers are better than Pakistan players. The players are not serious in the dressing room because they know nothing will happen. It seems they are playing for fun,” he added.
Pakistan scored 448/6 in their first innings, while Bangladesh posted 565 in reply. The Bangladesh spinners didn’t allow the rivals to settle down in the second innings.
“We will perform better in the second Test”: Shan Masood
Pakistan captain Shan Masood was disappointed with the display, but he promised to return with better performances. Pakistan have slipped to 8th position in the World Test Championship (WTC) after their most recent defeat.
“We will have to rectify a lot of mistakes before the second game. We were expecting to get more assistance from the pitch but it behaved differently. We didn’t get a lot of things right,” Shan Masood said.
The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will start on August 30 in Rawalpindi.
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