'Same old story': Ahmed Shehzad criticizes Pakistan team after first ODI loss

Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has voiced his disappointment following the national team's defeat in the first ODI against Australia, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday.

Shehzad took to the social media platform X to express his frustration, stating, "Can't believe it. Pakistan should have not lost from here. We might never get a chance like this in the series again. Poor planning in the end cost us the game. We were too short to tail-enders rather than being full and straight. Very disappointing, same old story. Australia calmed the nerves and went all the way for victory."

The opening batter also shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, analyzing the match's dynamics.

"Australia made every effort today to find a way for Pakistan to win this match, but Pakistan also vowed that they would not have a happy dinner or a chicken dinner. They didn’t want what you were serving on the plate to be handed to them as a win, so they said, 'Take it back'," he said.

In pursuit of a modest target of 204 runs, Australia faced early setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, an impressive innings from Pat Cummins proved pivotal, allowing Australia to steady their chase and ultimately secure victory, finishing the match after losing eight wickets inside the 34th over.

The Pakistani bowlers displayed their skills throughout the match, with Haris Rauf leading the charge by claiming three wickets. Shaheen Afridi contributed two wickets, while both Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain took one each. Despite this strong performance, Rizwan's decision to field an all-pace attack did not yield the desired results, as the bowlers collectively conceded 21 extra runs, including 17 wides and four leg byes. These crucial missteps in a low-scoring match may have significantly influenced the final outcome.

With this victory, Australia now leads the three-match ODI series 1-0. The second match is set to take place in Adelaide on November 8, where Pakistan will look to bounce back and level the series.