Published: Feb 16, 2025, 11:35 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 16, 2025, 11:35 AM (IST)
Out-of-favour Pakistan batter Ahmed Shahzad heavily criticized skipper Mohammad Rizwan for picking to bat first in the tri-nation series final against New Zealand. On Friday, New Zealand beat Pakistan by 5 wickets to win the tri-nation series final at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Batting first, Pakistan were only able to post a total of 242 before getting bundled out by the Kiwis. In reply, the visitors went on to achieve the target in just 45.2 overs.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Shahzad questioned Rizwan’s decision to bat first, especially after Pakistan chased down a mammoth target of 353 a couple of days prior against South Africa at the same stadium.
“It was a mind-boggling decision (to bat first) because we had seen in the previous match that the pitch becomes better to bat on in the night, the ball doesn’t grip on the surface for the spinners. Still, the Pakistan team decided to bat first,” Shahzad said on his YouTube channel.
“Pakistan’s bubble has burst ahead of the Champions Trophy. You get a chance to win only when the opposition performs below par or doesn’t have their main players playing,” Shahzad added.
The veteran batter also questioned why pacer Mohammad Hasnain was dropped for all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, who only bowled 2 overs during the entire match.
“In his every decision, the Pakistan captain wants to play safe with batting, be it by being a spinner short in the Champions Trophy squad or this match, where they played (bowling all-rounder) Faheem Ashraf to have a longer batting line-up at the expense of (fast bowler) Mohammad Hasnain and still used him (Ashraf) for just two overs,” Shahzad said.
