Former policeman Mohammad Hafeez and opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad expressed their disappointment after Pakistan’s crushing defeat in the second T20I against South Africa at Centurion on Friday.
Shehzad took to social media platform ‘X’ and expressed his frustration with the team’s performance.
“To be honest, it was a good game to watch as a spectator… but it felt like the South Africa A and Pakistan A teams were playing against each other, with some players having the ability to fit into the senior team of both countries,” Shehzad posted.
“If you know, you know.”
“Just to remind you that seven key players are missing from this South Africa team, and we played with all our might and lost the series once again, just like we lost against the young Australians in the T20 a few days ago,” he added.
The 33-year-old did not hold back in his criticism, stating: “Pakistan cricket is dying every day and everyone is sleeping from top to bottom. What a shame.”
Meanwhile, Hafeez also expressed his displeasure by posting a scathing comment on the situation.
“Absolute circus #PakistanCricket,” Hafeez posted.
In the match, Pakistan opted to bat first and posted a competitive total of 206/5 in their 20 overs, thanks to some excellent unbeaten batting from young opening batsman Saim Ayub.
The left-handed batsman played an exceptional innings of 98* off 57 balls, with 11 boundaries and five sixes.
Ayub formed a crucial 73-run partnership with Muhammad Irfan Khan, who contributed a quickfire 30 off 16 balls.
Irfan’s dismissal in the final saw Abbas Afridi add a quick 11 runs in four balls before the end of Pakistan’s innings, leaving Ayub just two runs shy of a well-deserved century.
South Africa responded strongly in the chase, driven by Reeza Hendricks’ excellent 117 off 63 balls, which included seven boundaries and 10 sixes.
Hendricks shared a mammoth 157-run partnership with Rassie van der Dussen, who remained unbeaten on 59 off 39 balls.
Van der Dussen sealed the victory with six goals from Abbas Afridi in the final over, leading South Africa to victory in 19.3 overs.
The hosts now lead the three-match T20I series 2-0, with the final game scheduled for today in Johannesburg.
