'Shaheen Afridi was in la-la land at fine leg' - Wasim Akram criticises Pakistan's fielding in Adelaide

Pakistan and Australia are currently playing at the Adelaide Oval in the second and final game of the two-match Test series. After facing a defeat in the series opener, a good show was expected from the visitors. But that never looked the case on Day 1 because the bowlers couldn’t stop the flow of runs and their miseries were compounded with the mishaps on the field. In the meantime, the former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram, who was present in the commentary box has come down hard at the players for their poor show.

In the 2nd Test, Australia got off to a poor start and lost their first wicket at a score of eight runs. Later on, David Warner raced to his second consecutive ton and also stitched a brilliant partnership with Marnus Labuschagne. And, visitors’ bowlers were left struggling throughout the day to get their second wicket.

Yasir Shah and Masood were yawning, alleges Akram

One instance of Pakistan’s poor fielding took place on the third delivery of the 23rd over when Mohammad Abbas was bowling. David Warner, three runs away from scoring his 30th half-century, played a stroke towards leg gully. He soon ran for a double but misjudged an extra run. However, Shaheen Afridi, who ran towards the ball, delivered a wayward throw.

The ball missed the stumps, and even the backup fielders committed a misfield which led to the ball crossing the ropes. Instead of getting just one run, Warner got six runs for overthrows and reached his fifty easily. Wasim Akram wasn’t impressed at all with Shaheen Afridi’s efforts and felt that the latter looked lazy and the backup fielders Yasir Shah and Shan Masood were yawning. He also recited that he would have stood five to ten yards inside the boundary and not near the ropes.

“Shaheen Shah was in la-la land at fine leg. Yasir Shah and Shan Masood were probably yawning. That’s the problem with Pakistan cricket. They should be on the ball. Nobody was backing up and you as a fielder, it doesn’t matter how inexperienced you are, you set yourself, new batsman in, they just came out, I’ll probably start five-ten yards inside the boundary line not on the boundary.” Wasim Akram said while commentating as quoted by Fox Sports.