\n ![\"Cricket](\"https:\/\/static.cricketaddictor.com\/assets\/images\/newad3.jpeg\")
\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nAbrar took two wickets while captain Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Salman Agha took one wicket each.<\/p>\n
Pakistan’s response was simplified as Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori made 69 and 65, respectively, in the easy chase. As the stars would have it, Minhas ended up hitting the winning runs as well.<\/p>\n
Mike Hesson hits back at pitch critics<\/h2>\n
Mike Hesson took to his X account to hit back at the people who questioned the Pakistan side’s critics.<\/p>\n
He explained that not all pitches in South Africa would have pace and bounce, and that was largely a myth. Hesson explained that Zimbabwe and Namibia would also host some matches, and spin would certainly play a role in those countries.<\/p>\n
Mike Hesson also diverted the critics’ attention to Pakistan’s ODI against South Africa in Paarl in 2024, where Salman Agha, Saim Ayub, and Abrar Ahmed had combined to take 7 wickets before Agha’s rescue job with the bat got Pakistan home.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been hearing a bit of chatter about the pitches here in Pakistan not being the ideal preparation for the World Cup in South Africa. It\u2019s actually a topic I talked about on the latest PCB <\/span>podcast. Firstly, the World Cup is jointly hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Zimbabwe and Namibia have venues where spin is a big factor, and we will be playing matches in those countries,” Mike Hesson wrote on his X account. <\/span><\/p>\n“The myth of all pitches in South Africa being quick and bouncy is just not true; there are definitely some that are, but they also vary throughout the country,” he continued. <\/span><\/p>\n“Those who remember the last ODI series Pakistan played in SA, which included Paarl, where spin dictated the outcome of the match. Rest assured, we have conducted significant research and will be using the next 18 months to prepare for a variety of conditions,” he concluded. <\/span><\/p>\n