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Wasim Akram criticized Abrar Ahmed’s celebration after dismissing Shubman Gill, calling it inappropriate given the match situation.
Wasim Akram (L) and Abrar Ahmed. (PC: X)
Pakistani legend Wasim Akram was not happy with spinner Abrar Ahmed’s peculiar send-off to Indian opener Shubman Gill after getting him out in Sunday’s clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a sub-par target of 242, Gill hit an elegant 46 (52), laced with seven boundaries. Abrar knocked him over in the 18th over with a beautiful carrom ball, that pitched on middle-and-leg and turned square to knock the off-stump. Gill and his non-striker, Virat Kohli, had expressions of shock over their faces.
Meanwhile, Abrar crossed his hands and stared at Gill, indicating from his eyes that he should walk back.
“I was very impressed with the delivery. I wasn’t impressed with the celebration. Time aur jagah hoti hain na yaar (There is a time and place for everything),” Akram told Sports Central. “Is there no one to pull him up and ask what he was doing? Look at the match situation—you are under the cosh, yet you are celebrating as if you have taken five wickets. The celebration killed everything,” he added.
Abrar bowled an economical spell, conceding just 28 runs in his 10 overs but didn’t get another wicket. Kohli went on to score a brilliant unbeaten century and helped India win it in less than 43 overs.
In another interview, on the show ‘Dressing Room’, Akram criticised the team’s fast-bowlers and how the stocks have fallen from his time to reduce Pakistan’s incisiveness.
“Are you talking about fast bowlers?” Akram asked on the show. “Fast bowlers for which Pakistan is very famous for. That fast bowlers factories come in Pakistan and whatever comes to mind. I will tell you the stats. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is our main bowler. He has bowled 47 overs conceding 341 runs taking eight wickets at an average of 43. I am not talking of batting but bowling. Then Haris Rauf. Two matches out of five matches he was injured (Probably he thought who will play five matches, so get injured in two). Three wickets with an average of 52. Then Naseem Shah. 56 average and five wickets. Your three premier bowlers have average close to 50. You are not going to win any game unfortunately,” he added.
