Former captain Shahid Afridi slams Mohammad Yousuf regarding his statement about Mohammad Rizwan during a press conference.
Afridi Slams Yousuf Over Rizwan’s Statement
Pakistan lost the 3-match Test series after England defeated Pakistan in the first 2 Tests. Pakistan’s batting coach Yousuf was asked about Rizwan and his struggle in Tests, and why was the wicketkeeper batter still persisted despite a string of low scores.
“Dekhiye, main jab se cricket board ke saath aaya hu – takreeban 2 saal ho gaye hain and koi 8-10 months mujhe team ke saath huye hain. Toh ek cheez bohot clear hai ki har banda apne domain mein reh ke kaam karega. Main kisi ke domain mein nahi jaunga aur koi mere mein nahi aayega. Toh mera nahi khayaal ki ye meri domain ka question hai. Bura mat maniyega but yeh mera domain nahi hai.
(When I came aboard the PCB – it has been almost 2 years and some 8-10 months with the team. One thing is clear that every person operates within his domain. I won’t enter anyone else’s domain and no one else will enter mine. So, I don’t think this question belongs to my domain. Don’t mind but this is not my domain),” he had said during the PC at the end of Day 3 of the 2nd England vs Pakistan Test in Multan.
Rizwan scored 29 runs and 46 runs in the first test while scoring 10 and 30 in the second test match.
“Woh batting coach hi hain na waha pe? Toh zahir hai ki batsmen agar perform nahi karenge, zahir si baat hai ki Mohammad Yousuf se puucha jayega. As a batting coach, yeh toh usi ka domain banta hai. Rizwan ke baare mein, main pehle keh chuka hu ki kisi duusre ladke ko chance de diya jaaye,” Afridi said on Samaa TV.
“Main yeh nahi keh raha ki Rizwan ko drop kar diya jaaye lekin usko rest zaruur karaya ja sakta hai. Aap Test series haar gaye ho. Teesra match Karachi mein hai toh aap yaha chance de sakte hain. Why not Sarfaraz? Shan Masood… chances should be given.
(He is the batting coach, right? So obviously, if the players do not perform, he will be asked questions. As a batting coach, this is his domain. And about Rizwan, I have already said that the time has come to maybe give other players an opportunity. I am not saying drop Rizwan altogether, but he sure can be rested. You have lost the series and the third Test is in Karachi, so why not bring in someone like a Sarfaraz or Shan Masood).”
Winning the toss, England decides to bat first and scored just 281 runs after losing all 10 wickets which is not even half of England’s 1st test 1st inning score. But England’s aggressive bowling unit sacked Pakistan batters for 202 runs and made a 79 runs lead ahead of the 2nd innings.
With Harry Brook’s century, England scored 275 runs in the second innings while Pakistan were in need of 354 runs to win the 2nd Test match. Pakistan top order batters apart from Babar Azam scored a handful of runs and made 210 runs for first 5 wickets loss.
But England’s bowling unit made a strong comeback by cornering Pakistan’s batters which eventually led Pakistan to end the inning with 328 runs. England won the 2nd Test match and seals the series by beating Pakistan by 26 runs.
With the series defeat, the Pakistan cricket team are now out for the WTC 2023 Final spot race. With the Pakistan Test series victory, England registered their 8th win in Test cricket out of the last 9 series since McCullum and Stokes took over the England Test responsibilities.
The third Test match of the series will be played on December 17 in National Stadium, Karachi.
