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The Babar Azam-led Men in Green suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Afghanistan on Monday, October 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the CWC 2023. Despite winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Pakistan side posted 282/7 in their 50 overs, courtesy skipper’s knock of 74 off 92 deliveries. Apart from Azam, only Abdullah Shafique crossed the 50-run mark.
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But a brilliant batting display from the Afghans, with the top order reaching their respective half-centuries and skipper Hashmatullah also adding crucial 48 runs, helped them seal the match with eight wickets in hand. After this shocking defeat, several former Pakistan cricketers lashed out at the side from their dismal performance, one of them being Wasim Akram.
The former Pakistan spearhead came forward to lambast the side and question their fitness. “It was embarrassing today. To reach 280-odd losing just two wickets is pretty big. Wet pitch or not, look at the fielding, the fitness levels,” Wasim Akram said in a show on Pakistan TV channel.
“We’ve been screaming for the last 3 weeks that these players haven’t undergone a fitness test in the last two years. If I start taking individual names, their face will drop. Look like these guys are eating 8 kilos of mutton everyday. Should there not be tests?” he added.
The 57-year-old former cricketer turned commentator also questioned Pakistan’s fielding. He said, “Professionally you guys are getting paid, playing for your country. There has to be a certain criteria. Misbah, when he was coach, had that criteria. Players hated him but it worked. Fielding is all about fitness and that’s where we are lacking, now we have reached that same position, where we will pray for ifs and buts to happen.”
