Twitter Reactions: Twitter criticizes Shahid Afridi for his poor captaincy

Shahid Afridi led Pakistan after losing the high action game against India are on the field in the Asia Cup T20 against the weaker opponent United Arab Emirates. The UAE skipper won the toss and decided to bat first on a pitch that looked a lot flatter and with no grass. Their coach said they would want to score 100 given that they have a good bowling attack and we all know how unpredictable the Pakistan batting can be.

Mohammad Amir started the proceedings for Pakistan with Mohammad Sami at the other end. Sami on the last ball of his first got rid of the UAE opener Rohan Mustafa, Amir came back in his second to get the wicket of Muhammad Kaleem. Mohammad Irfan was the first change bowler and he too got a wicket in his very first over. The batting team looked in deep trouble and hardly had an idea facing a quality bowling attack like Pakistan. But from a position of 12/3, skipper Shahid Afridi surprisingly decided to take his pacers off and bowled from one end along with debutant Mohammad Nawaz and Shoaib Malik.

This decision gave the uncertain UAE batsmen room to score runs and all of a sudden boundaries were flowing and runs were coming thick for them. From a point where they could have been bowled out well under hundred bowling the part-timers allowed them to get a competitive total.

Though towards the end Afridi had to get his strike bowlers back in the attack and that paid off as Amir got his 2nd wicket and returned with figures of 4-1-6-2. Sami was expensive and gave away 11 in his last and 28 in his spell. UAE managed 129 in their 20 overs and if their bowlers are able to replicate the performance from the first two matches, the pressure will definitely be on Pakistan.

Here are the twitter reactions:

We could have bowled them under 80 but now they might score 130. #ThankYouAfridi #PAKvUAE

— Hassan Munir (@hasssan39) February 29, 2016

Playing nawaz on this pitch instead of a quickie.. not a smart decision lala. #PAKvUAE #AsiaCupT20

— Faraz Ali (@fickle_faraz) February 29, 2016

I was wondering what special practice Pak have done y'day. Witnessed much of it on the ground now. Keep playing Football. #PAKvUAE #AsiaCup

— Imad Rahim (@ImadRahim) February 29, 2016

Not only we let the match slip by not attacking, we let UAE to score their highest T20I score against a test side #PAKvUAE #AsiaCupT20

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) February 29, 2016

UAE:

First 6 overs: 20 for 3
Next 14 overs: 109 for 3#PAKvUAE #AsiaCupT20

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 29, 2016

That's a total #UAE will be happy with. Doesn't look like a bad decision now that they chose to bat against a best bowling line-up #PAKvUAE

— Tune.TV (@tunetvofficial) February 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/pilotclicks/status/704319621457956865

Afridi's strategy in every game is to first complete his 4 overs when the danger is minimum. #AsiaCupT20

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 29, 2016

That over went so badly I thought Afridi was going to retire halfway through it

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) February 29, 2016

Honestly I won't be too surprised if we end up losing this match as well. and Thankyou Afridi in advance#PAKvUAE #UAEvPak

— Tanzeel (@Tanzeeeeeel) February 29, 2016

I don't get the joke… I thought this was a demolishing bowling attack #PAKvUAE

— Talal H Siddiqui (@talalsid) February 29, 2016

@real_sumaira i think afridi delibrately gave them to score 129 !!!iss kya hoga ki sabi ko battng milegi !!! #PAKvUAE

— Shahbaaz Handoo (@ShahbaazManzoor) February 29, 2016

Our captain is without brain not learn in 20 years about cricket
After 15 for 3 pak must going for kill but he call weeker bowlers #PAKvUAE

— Muhammad Azhar Pti (@Raheel777000) February 29, 2016

Poor Captaincy from Afridi ,He went for completing 20 overs rather then attacking the opposition when u have fire power in attack #PAKvUAE

— zohaib (@zohaibawan) February 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/Abdullahnasir17/status/704319308445433856