New Delhi: The Pakistani cricket team, despite all their efforts, cannot seem to find a breather against the Aussies in the ongoing test series.
After displaying a horrific fielding and batting performance in the first test, the men in green are following their trend in the second match itself.
Notably, one player has been under the radar of the fans and critics more than others, i.e., Abdullah Shafique.
Shafique has dropped four catches in the series so far, including two of David Warner and one of Mitchell Marsh, with Marsh’s catch drop coming on day three of the Boxing Day test match.
Fans and critics have started to take a did in Pakistan’s fielding, as the Australian legend called Abdullah Shafique’s attempt toward the catch as a crocodile trying to catch a ball with his jaws, which implies Pakistani players lack technical knowledge about the catch.
“It’s like a crocodile jaw trying to catch a ball.”
Abdullah Shafique hands Mitch Marsh a life on 20 #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/NMlTKHn3t5
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2023
Netizens react
Netizens on X (Formerly known as Twitter) were quick to give their take on Abdullah Shafique, effectively sparking a meme fest.
Check out the reactions:
Abdullah Shafique is doing more for Australia than Australians themselves.pic.twitter.com/i55lEd3N05
— Burak (@buraksayss) December 28, 2023
Babar Azam calls this Abdullah Shafique guy (who has already dropped 3 catches in this match) Rahul Dravid of Pakistan.
Dravid might be anything but he took 200+ slip catches in Tests.
Fraud Babar and his fraud players 😆#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/yf9Czux2tN
— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) December 28, 2023
Abdullah Shafique is Unqaboolable in Slips
Please is ko hatao 😡😭#AUSvsPAK #BoxingDayTest pic.twitter.com/B61HvCe3bR
— Zubair Ghaffary⁵⁶🇵🇰 (@ZubairGhaffary) December 28, 2023
Three dropped chances by Abdullah Shafique in this match alone. Criminal 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
You cannot win Test matches in Australia like this 🙏🏼 #AUSvsPAK pic.twitter.com/XHodpLwWQe— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 28, 2023
Reaction of King Babar Azam after dropped a caught by Abdullah Shafique 💔😑#AUSvsPAK |#PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/ir5XP5Elrh
— Khurram 🇵🇰 (@Khurram_Rana21) December 28, 2023
Pakistan would have won the series if Abdullah Shafique Was not placed in slips.
Worst captaincy#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/8fjwKb9eep— ZAINI💚 (@ZainAli_16) December 28, 2023
ABDULLAH you dropped the catch and made Chances of Pakistan Lesser to win This. NOW Answer all the Critics with your Bat and Score Big and Win it For Pakistan. Fully Hoping for your Magical Innnings ✨️ 💛 #AbdullahShafique || #PAKvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/q0hrjFViN1— Haris Arshad (@harris00071) December 28, 2023
As it happened
Australia and Pakistan took on each other in the Boxing Day Test after the Aussies led the series by 1-0 after winning the first match of the series.
In the second match of the series, Australia, while batting first, posted a total of 318 runs, with the help of Marnus Labuschagne (63) and Usman Khawaja (42).
Aamer Jamal was the most successful bowler for the Pakistani team in the first innings with his impressive spell of 3 for 64.
Pakistan, in reply, were in a strong position at one point with Abdullah Shafique (62) and skipper Shan Masood (54) on the crease.
However, the Aussies made a strong comeback with the help of Pat Cummins (5 wickets) and Nathan Lyon (4 wickets), dismissing the whole Pakistani innings on just 264.
In the second innings, the Aussies had a nightmare start as they lost their four wickets, with just 16 on the board.
However, Mitchell Marsh (96) and Steven Smith (50) stitched an important 153-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take the Aussies out of trouble.
Australia by the end of day 3, was batting at 187 for 6, with a strong lead on 241 in their bank.
