Australia put up a strong performance on the fifth day of the final Test against Pakistan to win the three-match series 1-0 in Lahore. The hosts had got a target of 351 runs to win, but Australia bundled out their second innings for 235 runs. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon took 5 wickets (5/83) in the second innings. During the second session of the final day, the hosts were filled with the middle order. Australia declared their second innings on the fourth day of the match. Despite getting enough time, the Pakistani team could not achieve the target. Along with this, Australia also won the 3-Test series by 1-0.
After losing the series to Australia, veteran bowler Shoaib Akhtar took a jibe at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). In Akhtar’s view, the PCB has made this very rubbish series. He also said that unfortunately good decisions are not made in Pakistan. The Pakistan team got into such a bad situation in the process of tiring Australia. Akhtar also praised Pat Cummins and the courage of the Australian team. Cummins was also highly praised by other cricket critics for giving a target of just 351 runs.
Akhtar said on his YouTube channel, ‘This is a very sad series. In other words, a very rubbish series was made. It was the intention of the Pakistan Cricket Board and possibly the Pakistan team management to organize this series, that we have to draw it. PCB wanted that neither they win nor we win, just draw. But the Australians have to be praised.
Akhtar said, ‘It was fun watching Australian cricketers. I am happy. Not in their place, nor those children ever came to Pakistan, never played. They come here, play cricket with courage. In these conditions, they do not know the reverse swing, they can reverse swing, but how to do reverse swing in these conditions, where to do it, with which length to do it, when to do it, it is very important. Pat Cummins learned all this in 2 test matches.
Akhtar Said, ‘Nathan Lyon, who has never toured Pakistan at international level, also managed to take 5 wickets. But look at his courage. At the same time, look at the mind set of the Pakistan team. When you play with gullibility and play to survive, the result is like this. He had come as a guest. They were expecting you to take care of them, make good wickets, but you didn’t. You tried to tire them out.
Shoaib Akhtar Said, ‘The PCB chairman said that we are tiring him. Well tired… They left you exhausted. That’s why wrong approach, wrong mind set and wrong things and wrong thinking can never lead to success. Bring in people who can make good decisions for you. But unfortunately, good decisions are not made in Pakistan. I regret seeing that Pakistan lost a very important series.