Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali slammed Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel for their outing in the first Test match against England at Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan. Ali reckoned that these players were playing very defensive cricket on a flat track. He also added that they were more concerned about their runs.
Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel scored 30, 102, and 82 runs respectively.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ali remarked, "Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel batted as if it was a very difficult pitch like what we get in Australia and England. They didn't play according to the pitch and were only concerned about taking their turns, which is wrong."
Basit Ali hails Salman Agha and Shan Masood
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood and Salman Agha scored 151 and 104 runs respectively. Basit Ali reckoned that these are the only two guys who played according to the pitch in Multan
"Salman Ali Agha and Shan Masood were the only two guys who played according to the pitch. What's the point of scoring 30 runs from 70-80 balls or scoring a hundred in 180 balls on such a flat track? Shan Masood scored 151 runs in 177 balls, while Saud Shakeel scored 82 runs from 177 balls," Ali said.
Pakistan managed to score a strong total of 556 runs. However, they collapsed towards the end of their innings, losing quick wickets to England's Jack Leach, who took three important wickets, including Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan.
Pakistan have now gone ten Tests at home without a win (six defeats and four draws). This is the longest for any team except Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in the current century. Captain Shan Masood is also looking for the team's maiden Test win under his leadership.
