‘Sadly, we didn’t apply our brains’ – Shoaib Akhtar reacts to Pakistan’s slim loss to India in New York

Shoaib Akhtar. (Photo Source: Shoaib Akhtar/YouTube)

Pakistan’s narrow six-run defeat to India was heartbreaking for the current squad. Young Naseem Shah was visibly teary-eyed and nostalgic after the match, reflecting the sentiments of countless fans both in Pakistan and at the stadium, all left pondering the what-ifs.

Former Pakistani speedster, Shoaib Akhtar, conveyed his profound disappointment in a 121-second clip shared on his YouTube channel under the caption “Pakistan Did Their Best To Lose”. Speaking on behalf of both teams, he remarked that it was India’s middle order that faltered in the first innings, leading to a collapse that significantly constrained what could’ve been a substantially higher total.

Akhtar, who won 19 out of 38 games played against India across all formats, further highlighted the pivotal role of wicketkeeper-batter, Mohammad Rizwan, who top-scored with 31 runs, suggesting that had he prolonged his innings and accumulated a few more runs, Pakistan would’ve emerged victorious. Nonetheless, Akhtar lamented the apparent lack of strategic acumen displayed by Pakistan during the match.

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“Very disappointing. It was a run-a-ball chance for Pakistan. Earlier, India’s middle-order messed it up. They were 80-odd in 11 overs and could’ve achieved around 160, but couldn’t. But for Pakistan, it was a close chance. Rizwan could’ve scored another 20 runs and won the game for the team. Sadly, we didn’t apply our brains,” voiced Akhtar in a video on his YouTube channel.

I’m speechless and hurt, that’s about it: Akhtar

Continuing his discourse, Akhtar expressed grave reservations regarding the purpose and utilization exhibited by the Pakistan team, deeming it questionable at best. He lamented the profound disappointment felt by the team, asserting that victory should’ve been well within their grasp. Akhtar underscored the comfortable position Pakistan found themselves in, with the requisite runs within reach in terms of deliveries and wickets remaining. Ultimately, he confessed to being rendered speechless and deeply perturbed by the outcome.

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“A lot of things are questionable, their intent, the application, it’s really sad for the team. Pakistan should’ve won this game. They were pretty much in the game, requiring 46 runs in 47 balls when Fakhar was there. We had 7 wickets in hand, but we couldn’t do it. I’m speechless and hurt, that’s about it,” Akhtar added.