Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq came under fire from former players on Wednesday for his tactics and defensive approach in Pakistan’s 2-1 one-day international series defeat to Australia.
Pakistan lost the deciding match by three wickets on Monday, missing a good chance to record their first win against Australia in a limited overs series in 10 years. Former captain Wasim Akram said Pakistan were short of bite.
“You need aggression to beat Australia,” Wasim, a member of the team which won 2-1 in Australia in 2002, told AFP. “Misbah is not batting well and not showing aggression in captaincy.”
Wasim, who took 502 one-day and 414 Test wickets and was one of the best left-arm fast bowlers ever to play the game, said Misbah needs to show courage after notching up three one-day series defeats in a row.
“At his age Misbah needs to play his remaining cricket with a big heart,” said Wasim of the 38-year-old. Pakistan lost 4-0 to England and 3-1 in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Wasim criticised the decision to promote an out-of-form Shahid Afridi to number three in the third match.
“Afridi is playing as a bowler these days as he is not in the best of form with the bat, so sending him at number three was a mistake and I don’t understand the strategy of sending Kamran Akmal low in the order when he can be good as (the) opener,” said Wasim. Former paceman Sarfraz Nawaz also criticised Misbah.
“It was his defensive approach that cost Pakistan the series,” said Nawaz. “Pakistan had a good chance of beating Australia but they lacked planning and aggression.”
Former batsman Basit Ali said coach Dav Whatmore must share the blame.
“I think Whatmore’s ability as a coach has been exposed in this series,” said Ali. “I used to think that he was a good coach but his planning was not up to the mark
