“Seniors hiding behind youth”: Pakistani cricketer targets Mohammad Rizwan & Co.

The Pakistan men's cricket team suffered another setback after losing the first T20 match of the three-match series against South Africa on Tuesday. Playing in Durban, the Proteas scored a mammoth score of 183/9 after being put to bat first. This score came as a shock as South Africa were struggling at 71/4 at one stage. However, David Miller's mammoth knock of 82 off 40 balls took the hosts to a good total. In reply, Pakistan fought hard, but could only score 172/8 and lost the game by 11 runs.

Following this defeat, veteran Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad criticized Mohammad Rizwan and company for showing a “lack of intent”.

“Close but not good enough that the Pakistan cricket team is not learning from their past mistakes. First of all it was incredible to restrict South Africa to 180+ from where they were in the game and then how we went about chasing this target, it was It was bizarre from the start. A lot of points were made on the balls and lack of intent to chase cost us what could have been a win for Pakistan.

close but not good enough
Pakistan cricket team is not learning from last three mistakes
Firstly to see South Africa get to 180+ from where they were in the game was incredible and then how we went on to chase that down was bizarre from the start.
Lots of dot balls and lackluster…

– Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadShahzad) 10 December 2024

In this match, former captain and star batsman Babar Azam recorded another poor performance as he was out for a duck. Shahzad also criticized the senior players of the team for not taking responsibility and hiding behind the youngsters.

Shahzad wrote, “Seniors should lead from the front and not hide behind the youth. Saim, Shaheen and Abrar were positive.”

Talking about the match, Miller scored 82 runs in 40 balls with the help of four fours and eight sixes and George Linde scored a quick 48 runs, giving South Africa a score of 183 runs for nine wickets. Left arm spinner Linde took four wickets for 21 runs.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan scored 74 runs and his team was likely to win until he was out on the second ball of the last over.

Shaheen Shah Afridi led Pakistan's disciplined bowling attack, taking three for 22 – and reaching 100 wickets in T20 Internationals.

(With AFP inputs)