Latif, others praise fighting Pakistan

The first ODI between Pakistan and Australia ended in disappointment for the Men in Green as they lost a thrilling contest at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.

Following the match, former Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Hafeez and Rashid Latif, along with left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, shared their insights on the team's performance.

Former wicketkeeper-batter and captain Rashid Latif has praised the team's fighting spirit.

"Pakistan made a tremendous fightback and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's a success for Pakistan. This pitch wasn't easy to bat on; not only did the Pakistani batters struggle, but the Australian batters did too," Latif remarked, highlighting the challenges faced by both sides.

Former all-rounder and team director Mohammad Hafeez has expressed his support for the players via social media platform 'X.'

"A spirited fighting show from team Pakistan in the 1st ODI vs Australia at MCG. Mohammad Rizwan did pretty well as captain. Keep your heads up, guys. Well done," Hafeez posted, acknowledging the team's efforts despite the loss.

Mohammad Amir, who made his comeback to the national team during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA, also commented on the match.

"Yes, we lost the game, but it was a brilliant fightback from Pakistan. Rizwan did a great job," Amir stated, underscoring the resilience shown by the players.

'Same old story'

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.

Chasing a modest target of 204 runs, Australia initially faced difficulties, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, an impressive batting performance from Pat Cummins steadied the innings, allowing Australia to chase down the target after losing eight wickets inside the 34th over. Pakistani bowlers showcased their skills, with Haris Rauf taking three wickets, Shaheen Afridi contributing two, and both Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain picking up one wicket each.

Despite Rizwan's tactical decision to field an all-pace attack, the strategy backfired, as the bowlers conceded 21 extra runs—17 wides and four leg byes—crucial missteps in a low-scoring affair that could have altered the game's outcome.

With this victory, Australia takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The second match is scheduled to be held in Adelaide on November 8, where Pakistan will aim to bounce back and level the series.