Australia vs Pakistan 2019: Wasim Akram feels Yasir Shah may have 'poked the bear' with his celebration of Steve Smith's wicket
Former Pakistan left-arm pacer Wasim Akram has remarked that leg-spinner Yasir Shah might have poked the bear when he gestured after taking Steven Smith’s wicket in the first Test at Gabba.
Smith, who has enjoyed a phenomenal run of form post his return from a one-year ban, was bowled by a Yasir Shah delivery after facing just 10 deliveries. And the 33-year-old celebrated by putting up both his hands to signal his seven dismissals of Smith through his career.
However, Akram wasn’t too pleased with Shah’s reaction and felt that it was inexperience that led to the in-your-face gesture. Akram also pointed out the huge difference between modern-day and past cricketers, stating that players in today’s era were more focused on stats and personal records as compared to the previous generation of players.
“You know in our times when I played I didn’t bother with how many times I got out who... It was the last thing on our minds. Nowadays, with stats, people know everything,” Akram said.
Also see - Live cricket score
Akram also wished that the Pakistan camp concentrated on winning matches in Australia and taking the team forward rather than obsessing over individual records He said:
“I, as a bowler, (worried about) ‘am I impacting the game or not? Am I winning the game for Pakistan or vice versa?’ If not, that doesn’t matter if I’ve got him seven times. It was just an inexperienced mistake. I hope he hasn’t poked the bear there.”
Pakistan surrendered the first Test by an innings and five runs, their 13th consecutive Test loss on Australian soil. Naseem Shah and Imran Khan were omitted from the playing XI of the second Test while Mohammad Abbas was brought in along with debutant Musa Khan.
Australia Playing XI
David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c & wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan Playing XI
Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Muhammad Musa