The first ODI played between Pakistan and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday marked legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram addressing some intentful topics in the commentary box including the IPL.
The Indian Premier League, which began back in 2008, then featured the likes of Pakistan players in the inaugural season, as Pakistan players were then allowed to feature in the IPL. It was following the tragic Mumbai attacks in 2008 that the weak diplomatic relations between the two nations marked the exclusion of Pakistani players.
In the com-box, Akram, when in conversation alongside fellow commentators David Warner, Mark Howard, and Michael Vaughan, first earned the buzz for his statement that Pakistan now has the advantage over India in the red-ball series, especially on Turner pitches.
Next arose a conversation when asked about the potential pricing for the young Aussie talent Jake Fraser McGurk. Akram came up with an interesting answer. “I have checked out of IPL.”
To this fellow commentator, Howard questioned, “Why?” while Akram replied, “Because we are not allowed anymore.”
This statement not only highlighted the ongoing complexities between the two cricket nations, though Akram was previously seen as a bowling consultant for the Kolkata Knight Riders back in the earlier days of 2010.
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Amid all this, Pakistan under new skipper Mohammad Rizwan went on to lose a nearly-clinched match against Australia at the MCG. The Aussie skipper Pat Cummins rescued the Aussies despite the fall of wickets, as the tail helped the hosts clinch a 2-wicket win.
Having bowled out Pakistan for a minor 203, the highest scorer among them being 44 from skipper Rizwan, 40 runs from Naseem Shah, and 37 runs from Babar Azam up the order. Though Australia started off well with a decent 113/2 in their first 15 overs as they looked very promising, the middle-order once again struggled after the fall of Steven Smith and Josh Inglis.
However, later, Pat Cummins, with a match-winning 32* scored off just 31 balls, went on to clinch victory for the Aussies alongside the Man of the Match at MCG, Mitchell Starc. From Pakistan’s end, Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers, alongside valiant efforts from Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
