KARACHI – Former Pakistan cricketers Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal have raised concerns over Pakistan bowling decisions during the recent match against India. They criticised the early removal of Salman Ali Agha, who had made a strong impact in the powerplay.
Speaking on Har Lamha Purjosh, the former players highlighted that Salman Ali Agha took a wicket in his first over and conceded just 10 runs across two overs. They argued that Pakistan bowling management should have allowed him to continue, especially when the team needed control in the early stages of the innings.
The panelists suggested a smarter approach would have been to pair Salman Ali Agha with Saim Ayub from the other end. They noted that Shaheen Afridi was struggling to find rhythm, and extending Salman’s spell could have strengthened Pakistan’s bowling options significantly.
Basit Ali further commented on leadership issues, saying the captain seemed to lack authority, which may have led to excessive coaching interference. Kamran Akmal echoed this sentiment, claiming head coach Mike Hesson was heavily influencing Pakistan bowling decisions on the field.
Both former players also discussed tactical adjustments. Kamran Akmal mentioned that replacing even one “favoured” player with a specialist bowler could immediately enhance Pakistan’s bowling effectiveness. He stressed that proper utilisation of bowlers like Salman Ali Agha could make a significant difference in future matches.
Beyond bowling, the former stars touched on Pakistan’s batting order. They said Babar Azam is underutilised at number four and suggested Khawaja Nafay should take that slot. This would allow Babar Azam to bat in a more influential position, potentially improving overall team balance.
The criticism highlights ongoing debates about Pakistan bowling strategies and captaincy decisions. Experts argue that better planning and optimal use of bowlers are key for Pakistan’s success in high-pressure games against top opponents like India.
In other news read more about Veteran Pakistan Spinner Hints at Retirement: What’s Next for the Bowling Star?
Fans and analysts are now looking at how Pakistan bowling adjustments in future matches can turn performances around and maximise the team’s potential.
