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'Bowling First Was Suicide…': Akhtar 'Criticises' Babar Azam After Loss To India

image-lmg48k3ePandya undid Babar Azam in Super-4 match (AP Photo)

Pakistan slumped to a 228 run defeat at the hands of India at Colombo in their latest Asia Cup 2023 duel. Chasing 357 to win, the ‘Men in Green’ line-up fell apart like a pack of cards in front of ace Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who struck five times in his eight economical overs.

Pakistan captain and run-machine Babar Azam himself failed to get going in the run-chase, as the number one batter in the world was sent back to the pavilion for just 10 by Hardik Pandya.

Babar’s batting failure aside, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has decided to question his decision behind opting to bowl first on a good Colombo surface.


Akhtar says bowling first here was like committing suicide

Prior to the match, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and invited his Indian counterparts to bat first on a flat Colombo surface. As one can expect, ‘Men in Blue’ openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill blended themselves with the pristine batting conditions on offer by cracking sparkling half-centuries in their 121-run stand at the top.

Moreover, Virat Kohli at number three and comeback man KL Rahul at four plundered majestic hundreds to engineer India’s total to 356-2, their joint-record ODI score against arch-rivals Pakistan.



Pakistan’s run-chase never took off as they were folded up for just 128 in 32 overs to hand India a 228-run win, another record margin of win between the two sides.

After the match, Shoaib Akhtar questioned Babar Azam’s tactics of opting to field first on a good batting surface. He said:

“You should be smart enough as the management, captain, or player to make the right choice. Bowling first on a flat track and giving India a chance was like committing suicide.”

“Pakistan should make a strong comeback, and I think they will make a strong comeback. The decision making is very important, whether it be winning the toss and deciding what to do or the bowling changes.”

Pakistan will now face Sri Lanka in a must-win Super Four game in Colombo on September 14. If India manages to defeat Sri Lanka in their subsequent outing, the match between the two Asia Cup 2023 co-hosts might well turn out to be a virtual semi-final.

The final will be played out at the same iconic Colombo venue on September 17.