Ramiz Raja: “I don’t understand what Shinwari was trying to do”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Ex-Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has lashed out at left-arm pace bowler Usman Khan Shinwari and fellow seamer Hasan Ali for their dismal performance with the ball in the second Twenty20 International against South Africa in Johannesburg.

Shinwari made history for all the wrong reasons as topped the list for the most runs conceded by a Pakistan bowler in a Twenty20 International after giving away 63 runs off his four overs. To add insult to injury, he didn’t even take a wicket.

As for Hasan, he conceded 48 runs off his four overs, putting him at seventh on the list, and didn’t dismiss any of the Proteas’ batsmen either.

Despite allowing South Africa to score 188/3, Pakistan nearly chased it down as opening batsman Babar Azam hammered a 58-ball 90. In the end, Pakistan lost the match by seven runs, which gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

“I don’t understand what Shinwari was trying to do, bowling short balls on a slow pitch, where he should have bowled six slow deliveries, whereas Ali was didn’t bowl proper lines,” Ramiz was quoted as saying by the Business Recorder.

“The Pakistani think tank has to dwell on why the side is so weak when it comes to power hitting, what is the reason why the bowlers are getting thrashed despite being in the cricketing circuit for quite some time now.”