Shahid Afridi ‘reserves his views’ after Australia whitewash Pakistan
Former skipper Shahid Afridi has signalled his displeasure over the Green Shirts after Australia whitewashed Pakistan in the Test series for the seventh time.
The Shan Masood-led unit suffered a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of the Kangaroos in the red-ball fixtures and, Pakistan’s losing streak in Australia now stood at 17 Tests.
Hinting at his extreme dissatisfaction, the legendary allrounder took to X and said that he is going to “reserve his views” on Pakistan’s performance.
However, he praised the right-arm quick Aamer Jamal and declared him ‘an excellent addition to the side.
“Congrats Australia on a dominating win, been a fan of never give-up mindset,” he added.
He also congratulated David Warner on his amazing career and conveyed his best wishes for his future.
Match summary
David Warner made crucial 57 runs in his farewell Test innings to chase 130 runs set by Pakistan for Australia’s victory that also ensured the hosts clean sweep the series 3-0 on Saturday.
Aussies beat the visitors by eight wickets in the last innings, drawing a curtain to the latter’s hopes to end a run of 16 successive losses in Australia since 1995.
Pakistan could add just 47 runs to their overnight tally at the cost of the last three wickets, to be dismissed for 115 an hour before lunch.
Playing his 112th match before retiring from the format, Warner shared a hug with opening partner and childhood friend Usman Khawaja at the boundary rope and was given a guard of honour by the tourists as he came to the crease.
Khawaja departed lbw for a duck in the opening over, but Warner played like a man on a mission and was soon cutting the ball through the covers in trademark style for his first four.
He brought up his 37th Test half century with a single to square leg, and Australia went to lunch with the win all but in the bag on 91-1, 39 runs from their target.
There were seven boundaries and a couple more chances in Warner’s 75-ball innings before spinner Sajid Khan trapped him in front with Australia 11 runs from victory with a day to spare.
A crowd of more than 22,000 at his home Sydney Cricket Ground rose for a final ovation as Warner left the field, his part in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that earned him a one-year ban from international cricket forgiven.
Warner’s innings gave him a career tally of 8,786 runs in 112 tests at an average of 44.59 with 26 centuries since his debut against New Zealand in 2011.
Marnus Labuschagne (62 not out) got the home side across the line with a single shortly after Warner’s departure.
Shahid Afridi ‘reserves his views’ after Australia whitewash Pakistan As in the second Test in Melbourne, Pakistan had only their own batting frailties to blame for missing out on the chance to snap their long losing streak in Australia.
They were looking good to set their hosts a far more imposing target on a deteriorating pitch before Josh Hazlewood (4-16) took three wickets in the penultimate over of the day on Friday.
On Saturday morning, Mohammad Rizwan scored 28 before he was caught by Warner off the bowling of Nathan Lyon with Aamer Jamal holing out for 18 three balls later. Hasan Ali was bowled by Lyon for five to end the innings.
Seamer Jamal, who took a six-wicket haul on debut in the first Test in Perth and another in the first innings in Sydney, was not brought on to bowl until after lunch in a baffling decision by captain Shan Masood.