In a disappointing turn of events for Pakistan cricket fans, Afghanistan secured their first-ever win over Pakistan in T20Is on Friday in Sharjah. However, the defeat was not just heartbreaking for the fans but also drew criticism from former Pakistani cricketers Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt.
In his YouTube video, Kamran Akmal did not shy away from pointing fingers at Shadab Khan’s captaincy. Akmal, who is known for his candid opinions, expressed his disappointment in Shadab’s inability to read the pitch correctly. He further criticized Shadab’s decision to drop Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed, stating that resting five main players and dropping two others added pressure on the team.
Similarly, Salman Butt also took to his YouTube channel to voice his criticism of Shadab’s captaincy. Butt was quick to point out Shadab’s lack of attacking field placements and a wrong combination of players. He was also critical of Shadab’s choice of playing four fast bowlers on a pitch that was conducive to slow bowling.
Shadab Khan’s captaincy: Questionable decisions on the field
Butt highlighted Shadab’s mistake of not playing more slow bowlers on the pitch, which would have been more effective against the Afghan batsmen. He also mentioned the absence of a slip for Najib Zadran when he came to bat, which allowed him to score freely.
It is evident that Shadab Khan’s captaincy has come under scrutiny after Pakistan’s loss to Afghanistan. The former cricketers have raised valid concerns about his decisions on the field, and it remains to be seen how Shadab will respond to these criticisms in the future.
