Lahore Qalandars were knocked out of the Pakistan Super League after losing to Quetta Gladiators in their final match of the group stage.
Led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Qalandars failed to defend well in the final 5 overs and ended up losing a final ball thriller. Shaheen Afridi, while bowling the final over got hit for a six in the final ball of the over by fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram hit out against Shaheen for his poor bowling in the death overs and said that Shaheen had become predictable for the batters. Speaking on A Sports show – The Pavillion, Akram slammed the Pakistan T20I captain and criticised him for his choices in the match.
cutter or will on the stumps around the wicket. Batsmen are prepare for it now,” Wasim Akram said on A Sports.
“Even with the new ball, we all were watching it together, he was bowling half volleys. He needs to understand that batsmen now have understood that the first two balls from Shaheen will be yorkers. In the death he will either bowl slower cutter or will on the stumps around the wicket. Batsmen are prepare for it now,” he added.
In the same match Shaheen scored a rapid fifty of 28 balls and celebrated with putting his fingers on his lips, asking his critics to shut up.
Akram was furious at Shaheen’s gesture and said that the batter needed to let the specialist power hitters do their job, instead of promoting himself up the order.
“Shaheen got runs. But their big two hitters Sikandar Raza (got five balls) and David Wiese didn’t get a chance,” said Akram.
Shaheen ended his knock poorly on Sunday, 10 March. Despite reaching fifty in 28 balls, Shaheen was able to score 55 from his 34 deliveries.
This meant that Qalandars reached only 166 runs in their innings, which was later chased down by Quetta in the second innings