Shoaib Malik draws flak from ex-cricketers over Australia series remarks

KARACHI: Shoaib Malik, Pakistan’s stand-in captain, was under fire after he played down Pakistan’s back-to-back defeats in the first two One-day Internationals against Australia in Sharjah.

Pakistan were beaten in the opening ODI and later by eight wickets in the second game of the five-match series by the Aussies. That the losses came just weeks before this summer’s ICC World Cup in England is an alarming fact for the Pakistanis, who are hoping to win back the coveted 50-over title for the first time since their memorable victory in 1992.

However, Malik, who is leading Pakistan in the absence of regular skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, said after Sunday night’s defeat that the current series is just about testing the bench strength. “It’s not about winning the series, it’s about testing our bench strength,” said Malik. His comments drew flak from former Test cricketers like Ramiz Raja and Shoaib Akhter.

Malik also said that Pakistan can take out positives from the defeats. "It's the bowling where we lacked early wickets," he said. "But we could still see a lot of positives as we have given chances to youngsters and they have shown talent, like Rizwan came good today."

Earlier, Aaron Finch smashed a second consecutive hundred while Usman Khawaja made 88 as the two guided Australia to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory. The two trumped Mohammad Rizwan's maiden hundred -- 115 off 126 balls with 11 boundaries -- as Australia overhauled the 285-run target in 47.5 overs on a flat Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch.

Finch finished with 143-ball 153 not out with six sixes and 11 boundaries -- his highest ODI score -- while Khawaja's 88 came off 109 balls with eight boundaries as the two laid the platform for Australia's win with a solid 209-run opening-wicket stand which left Pakistan attack helpless.

When Khawaja holed out to Yasir Shah in the 37th over the writing was very much on the wall. Glenn Maxwell hit two sixes in his 19 before he ran himself out but Shaun Marsh accompanied Finch to the crossing line with a patient 11 and avoided any turn around in the final overs.

But credit to Pakistan's inexperienced attack that they took the match to that length after a dominating opening stand. The victory, in the 100th bilateral ODI match between the two teams, gives Australia a 2-0 lead in the five match series. They won the first match, also by eight wickets at the same venue.

Pakistan have rested six key players in the series in order to keep them fresh for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 starting in UK from May 30. Abu Dhabi will host the third match on Wednesday followed by the last two in Dubai on Friday and Sunday. Finch said he hung in to avoid any early risks.

"I just wanted to get through the initial overs and it worked," said Finch, whose previous best of 148 was against Scotland at Edinburgh in 2013. "Usman is in great form and he made it easy for me. Disappointed that he did not get a hundred."