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Former Opener Slams Shadab Khan Following Pakistan's Shambolic Defeat Against Afghanistan 


image-lfo2gnwgPakistan lost the first T20I by six wickets [Source: Twitter]

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has come down heavily on stand-in skipper Shadab Khan and the team-management for their tactics and selection in the first T20i against Afghanistan on Friday (March 24).

After countless near-miss opportunities, Afghanistan scripted history on Saturday night as they defeated the Pakistanis for the first time ever in international cricket courtesy of a 6-wicket triumph in the 1st T20I in Sharjah.

On a typically slow and sluggish Sharjah wicket, the Afghan spin trio spun an inexperienced Pakistani line-up in a tizzy as the latter huffed and puffed their way to 92/9 in 20 overs.

But, unlike Afghanistan, the Pakistani management failed to sum up the conditions as it proceeded to play 4 seamers on a surface that was tailored for spin bowling.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Butt lambasted the Shadab Khan-led management for picking a seam-heavy bowling attack as if the match was being held in Perth.


Here's what Salman Butt said:

"The pitch was conducive for slow bowling. Despite playing so much cricket, Shadab is bowling his fast bowlers and also bowling fast himself," as quoted by India Today. You went with four fast-bowlers on this pitch, you were not playing in Perth. That means you have no clue."

Pakistan handed a maiden T20I cap to right-arm pacer Ihsanullah, and the youngster obliged by picking two crucial scalps in his very first over.

However, Butt reckoned that despite the Afghan batters struggling against Ihsanullah, captain Shadab didn't prove him attacking fields, especially against Najib Zadran.

"Afghanistan batsmen were struggling against Ihsanullah, but Shadab had kept the fielders at boundary. What is your reading of the pitch that you chose to bat on this pitch? That means you have no clue. There was no slip for Najib Zadran when he came onto bat," Butt said.

Afghanistan eventually hunted down the target of 93 in the 18th over to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The 2nd match will take place on Sunday, March 26.