Pack Your Bag And Leave! Ex-Pak Star Blasts On Abdullah Shafique For Poor Performance Vs Bangladesh

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali criticised Abdullah Shafique for his poor performance in the first Test against Bangladesh. Pakistan declared at 448/6 in the first innings, but Bangladesh outperformed them in all areas. Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh secured a historic 10-wicket victory in Rawalpindi, marking their first Test win against Pakistan.

On Day 5, despite wickets falling rapidly, Abdullah Shafique continued to score runs alongside Mohammad Rizwan. However, hopes were dashed when Shafique attempted an ill-advised shot against Shakib Al Hasan. He came down the track for a big hit but failed. Basit Ali didn't hold back in his criticism of Shafique's shot selection.

Basit Ali's Criticism

"If I was in the dressing room, I would have told Abdullah Shafique to pack his bags and leave. His shot was the reason Pakistan lost the match. After hitting 37, you are giving away your wicket with such a shot. Shan Masood should punish Shafique. This is Pakistan's team, not your local team. They played the wrong combination," Basit said on his YouTube channel.

Shafique wasn't alone in making poor decisions; Naseem Shah also tried for glory when he needed to hold his ground. "Look at the way Naseem Shah gave away his wicket. This is Pakistan cricket, not street cricket; this happens in England's league cricket," Basit added.

Strategic Errors

Pakistan's failure to understand the pitch conditions contributed significantly to their loss. They opted for an all-out pace attack by excluding Abrar Ahmed from the team, which backfired. The spin duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took nine wickets between them, causing major problems for Pakistan.

Basit believes that Pakistan's Test head coach Jason Gillespie misread the pitch conditions. "Both Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie lost their opening matches. They both made mistakes. Kirsten made a mistake in the Super Over against the US, and Jason made a mistake in reading the pitch," he noted.

Pakistan will aim to even out the series during the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on August 30.