'Wasim Akram thodi na hai aap, toh phir kyun karna?' - Virender Sehwag takes subtle jibe at Mohammad Nawaz

Virender Sehwag has taken a subtle jibe at Mohammad Nawaz after his final over fiasco in the blockbuster ICC T20 World Cup 2022 clash between India and Pakistan at the MCG on Sunday, October 23. With India needing 16 runs off the remaining six deliveries, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam had to give the ball to Nawaz since there were no options left. 

Commenting on the nail-biting final over where Pakistan ended up on the losing side, Sehwag said that Nawaz should have stuck to his natural left-arm spin deliveries instead of going for experimentation. Making fun of his (Mohammad Nawaz) tactics, the former India opener said Nawaz is no Wasim Akram.

I would have advised him to bowl normal left-arm spin: Virender Sehwag

"Had I been there, I would have advised him to bowl normal left-arm spin because you are going to be hit for runs, but there should be no worries. Yes, 16 runs are not less but don't be afraid to bowl. Why are you even trying to attempt something that you have never done in your entire life with the ball in hand? Wasim Akram thodi na hai aap. Toh phir kyun karna? (You aren't Wasim Akram then why (attempt seam-up bowling)),” said Sehwag while speaking on Cricbuzz.

Babar Azam's move of handing the ball to Nawaz seemed to click when he accounted for a well-set Hardik Pandya off the very first delivery. The left-arm spinner did manage to keep Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik quiet for the next three balls before a six hit by Kohli was signaled a waist-height no-ball.

The Pakistan players were annoyed with the decision and Babar was seen confronting the on-field umpires. However, it seemed that the setback played on the mind of Nawaz and he bowled a wide ball as a result of which India got an extra run while he had Virat clean bowled off the very next ball, the free hit stayed and the batters smartly ran three after the ball rolled to third.

The umpire signaled it as three byes. Nawaz had Karthik stumped by Mohammad Rizwan on the next delivery and with Ravichandran Ashwin coming out to bat India needed two runs off the final delivery. The left-arm spinner made a big mistake while attempting to bamboozle Ashwin as he bowled a wide.

With one needed off one ball, Ashwin lofted one over the mid-off fielder and India registered a famous win by four wickets.