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- Feb 24, 2023
After losing to India in their first match, Pakistan thrashed Hong Kong in the second to qualify for the Super Four. Babar Azam and Co. notched a humongous 193/2 and bowled out the Hong Kong team on a paltry 38. Mohammad Rizwan played a half-century knock of 78 off of 57 deliveries and was adjudged the Player of the Match for his performance. The legendary Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram, however, did not seem impressed with the wicketkeeper batter’s innings.
Akram was critical of Rizwan’s performance. His problem stems from Rizwan’s strike rate. While speaking about Rizwan’s innings in the post-match show, Akram said, “I’m all for getting runs but Rizwan getting not out for me was a big no-no.”
He explained, “Okay, if you’re tired, try to hit a couple of boundaries, get out, have fresh legs in there. You have Asif to go, you have Iftikhar, then you had Nawaz then you had Shadab. You know you bat till number eight number nine.
So what’s the point in this format going not out 75, 70 out of 56 deliveries? I don’t buy it I’m sorry,” concluded Wasim Akram.
Wasim bhai gotta fair point here. Must listen, you may agree on thishttps://t.co/OMkmuVZu8S
— Ahmer Najeeb Satti (@AhmerNajeeb) September 2, 2022
Notably, Rizwan played a similar inning of 43 off 42 deliveries in the first match against India. In that match, however, restricting the fall of wickets was required hence the right-hand batter did not face any flak but the match against Hong Kong required him to play with a higher strike rate and hence Akram’s comments.
Four teams, namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have qualified for the Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2022. All four teams will now play one match against the rest three. The top two teams from this stage will then face in the final, scheduled for 11 September 2022.
The Super Four stage begins with a match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on Saturday, September 3rd. India play its first match of the Super Four against Pakistan on September 4th.