Australia secured a historic Test series victory on March 25 (Friday) after they defeated Pakistan in the third Test match by 115 runs. This win helped the Aussies in clinching a first Test series victory in Asia since 2011.
While talking about Pakistan cricket team’s performance in the latest Test series against Australia, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar expressed his disappointment.
Akhtar speaks
“Absolutely disappointing series, this. Absolute nonsense. The mindset of both, the Pakistan Cricket Board and probably the team management was to draw this series. Neither they should win, nor us; just end this series in a draw,” Akhtar said on his official YouTube channel.
While talking about Australian team’s performance, the former Pakistan pacer praised Australia skipper Pat Cummins and their pacer Mitchell Starc as he was “genuinely happy” for the Aussies.
“But hats off to Australians. I'm genuinely happy for them. This is not their home, none of these players played in Pakistan before; they came here and play brave cricket.
“The bowlers didn't know when the ball reverses in such conditions but both, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins put in the hard hours to learn the skills of the trade here. Nathan Lyon, who hasn't toured Pakistan yet, took a five-wicket haul,” Akhtar explained.
Pakistan's approach
Akhtar also talked about Pakistan team’s approach and mindset as he feels they “should bring in people who are not mediocre and take right decisions.”
“See, when you are lacking courage and only trying to escape, the results are like this. They came here after 24 years and they expected you to prepare good wickets. But you didn't do that. You tried to wear them down. The opposite has happened. It's the wrong approach, wrong mindset. We should bring in people who are not mediocre and take right decisions. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen in Pakistan,” the 46-year-old former pacer expressed.
The first Test match of the series resulted in a draw and there was not much difference in the outcome of the second Test as it ended as a draw as well. But in the third Test match of the series, played in Lahore, the visitors exhibited a brilliant performance as they managed to win the match by 115 runs.
The two teams will now face each other in a three-match ODI series, scheduled to start on March 29.
