NEW DELHI: Legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi took a crafty jab at former skipper Babar Azam, while praising newly-appointed captain Mohammad Rizwan, following Pakistan’s dominant 9-wicket victory over Australia in the second ODI in Adelaide on Friday.
Afridi praised the team’s great comeback performance with a lengthy post on social media platform, implying that strong leadership plays a pivotal role in motivating players.
“When a captain inspires, the team fires!
What a phenomenal comeback performance by Pakistan in Adelaide – securing our first-ever nine-wicket win over world champions Australia on their home turf! This victory is a huge confidence booster for the ODIs ahead.
The word ‘marvelous’ barely does justice to today’s stellar display from Rizwan, Haris, Shaheen, Saim, and Abdullah.
Lads, keep believing in yourselves and inshallah even more successes are just around the corner,” Afridi posted on ‘X’.
Paceman Haris Rauf led Pakistan’s bowling attack with a stunning 5-29 as they crushed Australia by nine wickets, levelling the three-match ODI series 1-1.
Rauf’s fiery spell restricted Australia to just 163 in 35 overs — their lowest ODI total against Pakistan — on a track that favoured batting.
Rizwan, captaining Pakistan’s white-ball team for the first time, made a big impact with six dismissals behind the stumps, tying the world record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in an ODI.
Saim Ayub’s blazing 82, alongside Abdullah Shafique’s steady support, sealed Pakistan’s chase in just 26.3 overs.