Disappointed by the Pakistan team losing the second T20 to Australia by seven wickets at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday, former speedster Shoaib Akhtar said there was no batsman who could take the responsibility except for Babar Azam.
“I feel disappointed for Pakistan and especially for Babar who played superb in both the T20s. There is no batsmen who can take the command like Babar,” Akhtar said on his YouTube Channel. The Pakistani skipper hit 50 off 38 in the second T20 after scoring a 59 not out in the first T20 which was washed out by the rain.
“I am saddened that Babar’s efforts went in vain,” he said.
Shoaib, who was referred as Rawalpindi Express, said the wicket was hard however, there was bounce on the surface. “The ball was coming up good but Pakistani openers failed to capitalize,” he said, adding Pakistani batsmen did not show any sense of maturity.
He added Pakistan could have easily scored 200 or close to that on the particular wicket.
“Our batsmen, Haris Sohail, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan lack the maturity of that of Australian batsman Steve Smith,” he said.
He added that Rizwan played well in the first T20 but looked like in a hurry in the second game.
Akhtar further said Mohammad Amir bowled well but Muhammad Irfan was struggling because of his left leg. “The management should have thought of Irfan before picking him in the team,” he said.
He added Smith was very effective in the second T20. Smith scored an unbeaten 80 as Australia edged Pakistan by seven wickets to go 1-0 up in the three-match T20 series.
“After comeback Smith has been scoring tons of runs and has proven that he is a T20 player,” he added.
