Legendary Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi was pleased to see Babar Azam & Co. continuing their dominant run in the shortest format after a successful T20 World Cup campaign. Azam-led Pakistani side hammered Bangladesh 3-0 in their first away assignment after the conclusion of the ICC World T20 2021 hosted by India in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. The semi-finalists in the T20 World Cup 2021 clinched the third and final match against Bangladesh by five wickets following a dramatic last over on Monday.
Taking to Twitter after Pakistan completed the T20I series clean sweep, former Pakistani cricketer Afridi lauded the Green Army for extending their winning run in the shortest format. “Congratulations Pakistan!! A bit too close for comfort at the end. Great to see the team maintain winning ways, so important for a team to carry on the winning momentum,” Afridi said in his tweet.
Reflecting on how Bangladesh contested the three-match series against the visitors, former Pakistan skipper Afridi questioned the quality of the pitches used by the hosts for the T20Is. The 2009 T20 World Cup winner also lashed out at how Bangladesh performed in the T20 World Cup. The legendary Pakistani all-rounder then advised the crestfallen side to do “some soul searching” after Pakistan’s series triumph.
“Bangladesh really need to do some soul searching, do they want to win on such pitches and give ordinary performances abroad and in World Cups? They have great talent and passion for the game but desperately need better pitches if they want to progress,” Afridi added.
Talking about the thrilling encounter between the two teams at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Azam-led Pakistan restricted Bangladesh for 124-7 in the 3rd and final T20I of the series. Iftikhar Ahmed thwarted Mahmudullah’s bid of taking a hat-trick by smashing a huge six off the fourth ball in the final over.
Though Mahmudullah bounced back by taking the wicket of Iftikhar, new batter Mohammad Nawaz smashed a boundary to help Pakistan complete the whitewash of the hosts in the T20I series. Pakistan’s Haider Ali was named the Man of the Match while Mohammad Rizwan took home the Player of the Series award.
