Ex-captain mocks Pakistan with 'league vs team' jibe after crushing defeat in 1st T20I vs SA

Ex-captain mocks Pakistan [Source: AFP Photo]

Pakistan were humiliated and humbled by South Africa’s B team in the first T20I of the series on Tuesday. The visitors were put into bat, and on a flat Rawalpindi wicket, they piled on 194/9, which was a par score on the surface. In reply, the Pakistan side failed to deliver the goods and were never really in the contest.

Hafeez takes dig at Pakistan's falling cricketing standards

The team lost a flurry of wickets as they got bundled out for just 139, thus losing the series opener. After the game, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez took a jibe at the side, stating that the gap between the two sides was not due to the pitch conditions, but rather the standards of the Men in Green had fallen.

“Nothing wrong with Pindi pitch, but the obvious difference is the standard of cricket. #PAKvSA. International league vs International team,” Hafeez posted on his X account.

In home conditions, Pakistan was expected to deliver the goods, but the batters had a disappointing outing as they succumbed to the Proteas’ relentless bowling attack.

Pakistan's poor T20I record in 2025

Since the T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s standards in the format have dipped as the Men in Green crashed out of the group stage. In 2025, they appointed a new T20I skipper in Salman Ali Agha, but the performances have not improved a bit.

The team lost an away series vs New Zealand in March 2025, and they also made an unwanted record of losing the away T20Is vs Bangladesh. Pakistan came into the Asia Cup 2025 as the second favourites behind India, but once again, they faltered.

The Men in Blue thrashed Pakistan in the group stage, Super 4, and then won a close-fought contest in the finale to clinch the Asia Cup title as Pakistan failed to defeat their arch-rivals in three consecutive games.

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