Pakistan would have taken 50 overs: Danish Kaneria slams fans for mocking India’s batting in 2nd ODI vs Zimbabwe

Former Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria called out fans for mocking India’s batting during the second ODI match against Zimbabwe, saying that his country’s team would have taken 50 overs to chase down the target.

India bundled out Zimbabwe for 161 inside 39 overs and chased down the target inside 26 overs after losing five wickets. With the win, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series in Harare.

“Many Pakistani fans have said that India lost five wickets while chasing a total of 161 against Zimbabwe. But we must consider that India had a very attacking approach and they finished the game within 25 overs. In a similar situation, Pakistan would have taken 50 overs to chase it down,” Kaneria said in his latest YouTube video.

Kaneria further held the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responsible for Shaheen Shah Afridi getting ruled out of the Asia Cup. The fast bowler suffered a right knee ligament injury, which has forced Afridi to miss both the Asia Cup and the series against England. The 22-year-old sustained the injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Afridi is expected to return to competitive cricket in October with the New Zealand T20I tri-series followed by the T20 World Cup in Australia. However, Kaneria cited PCB’s poor workload management for Afridi’s current situation.

“Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the Asia Cup and the PCB is to blame for this. I had been saying for a year that he will break down one day. The same has happened, that too ahead of a big tournament. There was no need for the management to play him in the Sri Lanka series. Playing him in so many games in all three formats was a big mistake,” Kaneria said.

Pakistan will play against arch-rivals India in their opening match of the Asia Cup on August 28 in the UAE.

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