CENTURION: Right-handed opening batter Ahmed Shehzad expressed frustration over Shan Masood’s decision-making during Pakistan’s two-wicket defeat in the recently concluded first Test against South Africa, held here at the SuperSport Park on Sunday.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Shehzad questioned red-ball captain Shan’s decision regarding the utilization of fast bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal.
“Why did Pakistan captain Shan Masood hold back Aamir Jamal all day, only giving him an over when the match was slipping? Those 11 runs in his over changed everything. Why Shan, Why??” Shehzad shared.
The 28-year-old was handed the ball in the second-last over of the game, prompting criticism over the decision.
The pacer, who struck twice in the first innings, ended up wicketless in the final.
Shehzad, however, lauded returning pacer Muhammad Abbas’s commendable performance, who returned brilliant bowling figures of 7/133.
“Pakistan lost the 1st Test despite a great fight from Muhammad Abbas,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention that the returning pacer claimed six wickets in South Africa’s second innings and was pivotal in inflicting a middle-order collapse.
He started the decisive day’s proceedings by dismissing Aiden Markram before getting rid of South Africa’s batting mainstay Temba Bavuma to open the floodgates.
He further pushed South Africa to the backfoot by dismissing David Bedingham (14) and debutant Corbin Bosch (zero) on successive deliveries, reducing the home side to 99/8.
Besides Abbas, Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad could pick one wicket apiece.
With this victory, the hosts qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, while their narrow two-wicket victory further complexed India’s qualification scenario.
For the unversed, the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa is set to run from January 3 to 7 at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.
- Ahmed Shehzad