'Change your mentality before you become history' - Shoaib Akhtar criticizes Pakistan for defeat against Zimbabwe

Visitors Zimbabwe stunned the Pakistan Cricket Team in the thrilling Super Over in the third One-day International of the three-match ODI series to deny the hosts a series clean sweep. The Men in Green entered the tournament on the back of two stunning victories against Zimbabwe by 26 runs and 6 wickets respectively while the visitors were playing for pride. Pakistan’s defeat in the Super Over invited criticism from Shoaib Akhtar as the latter accused the team of playing with a conservative approach.

Winning the toss, the visiting captain Chamu Chibhabha decided to put up a total on the board. However, the team had a lanky start as the opposition bowler Mohammad Hasnain went all guns blazing against the feeble top-order and picked up all three wickets. The middle-order comprising Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams again provided stability to the batting order as the duo collected an 84-run stand.

Williams brilliantly anchored the innings and smashed an unbeaten 118 in 135 deliveries including 13 fours and 1 six to take his team towards an above par score of 278 in the 50 overs. He was well supported by Taylor and Sikandar Raza. Hasnain was the lone warrior with the ball as he recorded his maiden five-wicket haul in One Day Internationals. He finished with an impressive stats of 10-3-26-5.

Blessing Muzarabani wins the game for his team; Shoaib Akhtar disappointed

In reply, Pakistan batters were no better as the team lost the wickets of both their opening batsmen within two overs. In this tough scenario, Babar Azam played a captain knock as he smashed a stunning century (125 off 125 deliveries). However, the Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani bowled the spell of his life (10-1-59-5) to make his team alive in an otherwise dead match.

Zimbabwe had almost won the match but a midfield from Tendai Chisoro took the match into the Super Over. In the Super Over also, Muzarabani was brilliant with the ball and took two wickets and gave just 2 runs. Zimbabwe batters easily chased 3 runs to register a consolation win and open their account in the World Cup Super League.

This defeat of Men in Green in the last ODI didn’t go well with the former speedster Shoaib Akhtar who took to his official Twitter handle to slam the team for their conservative approach. Akhtar termed the defeat as embarrassing and advised the players to change their mentality before they become history.

“Embarrassing. Losing to Zimbabwe is an issue. You lose some, you win some however you have to be progressive. We weren’t expressive. Change your mentality before you become history”

Embarrassing. Losing to Zimbabwe is an issue. You lose some, you win some however you have to be progressive. We weren’t expressive. Change your mentality before you become history ..

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 3, 2020