India vs Pakistan: There was lack of calculation, Shoaib Akhtar points out Pakistan’s blunder

Shoaib Akhtar slammed Pakistan for its lack of calculation against India in the T20 World Cup match. India defeated Pakistan by four wickets in their opening match at the MCG.

Pakistan suffered 4-wicket defeat against India. (AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar slammed his national team for its “lack of calculation” against India in the T20 World Cup match.

Pakistan suffered a four-wicket defeat at the hands of India. Arshdeep Singh’s double blow rocked Pakistan before Virat Kohli stood tall to take India home.

“Pakistan could have achieved 170-plus easily but they decided not to because in the midway they sent Shadab (Khan) then Haider (Ali). Had they sent (Mohammad) Nawaz, Pakistan could have crossed 170. There was lack of calculation,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.

“I think Pakistan is playing one bowler less. You faced a problem in Dubai (during the Asia Cup). It is not the job of Nawaz to bowl the last over. Please try to understand this. It’s the captain’s and management’s job to play a proper bowler. If you don’t want to play an extra bowler then complete Nawaz’s overs by 14-15 overs so that it doesn’t hurt later on. Babar Azam made a mistake, but again Pakistan shouldn’t fall from here.”

Arshdeep Singh, who is playing in his first-ever ICC event, struck on his very first ball to get the big wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam for a golden duck. The India left-arm fast bowler returned for his second over and sent Mohammad Rizwan packing, becoming the first bowler to dismiss both Pakistan openers in the same innings. Arshdeep finished with the figures of 3/32, while Hardik Pandya returned with 3/30 as Pakistan posted 159/8.

Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah gave Pakistan the perfect start with the ball, dismissing Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav early on. However, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya took the match deep, with Kohli (82* off 53) hammering Pakistan bowlers and Pandya (40 off 37) playing the second fiddle.

With 16 runs needed off the final over, Pandya was sent packing as Mohammad Nawaz ended his struggle. When the fourth ball went for a six, the umpire signalled a no-ball for being a high full-toss for Kohli. Nawaz then bowled a wide before India took three runs on a free hit.

Nawaz fumbled again as he bowled a wide when India needed two runs off as many balls. Ravichandran Ashwin then cleared the infield for a single, leading to jubilation in the Indian dugout. India will next play the Netherlands, while Pakistan will meet Zimbabwe on October 27.