Although Pakistan had won the first Twenty20 match against Zimbabwe, one dropped catch, two missed stumpings, several extra runs conceded through sloppy fielding and the dismissal of Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Umer Akmal raise many questions over selection and fitness of players. Critics of the game told the Business Recorder that Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Umer Akmal were out because of their own faults caused by poor selections of shots.
Umer Akmal, who is considered an asset, is required to focus on selection of shots with more focus on the game, the critics said, adding, "Mohammad Hafeez being senior most players would have to focus on his game plan." They said Team Pakistan's inability to finish off matches was again a cause of concern as the match was allowed to get much closer than it should have, needing skipper Shahid Afridi's boundary in the final over when four were required off four balls. But they said young opener Mukhtar Ahmed's performance was highly praise worthy.
Pakistan are the only team to have never lost a T20 at home while first Twenty20 against Zimbabwe had revived international cricket in Pakistan after six years. Cricket fans also enjoyed the game amid stringent security cover. Terming a Twenty20 win against Zimbabwe as the "icing on the cake," Head Coach Waqar Younis said, "It's always good to play in front of the home crowd and winning the game.
Waqar, who coached for the first time in a match in Pakistan, said, "Playing on home soil in front of our own people gives you different feelings." He further said the occasion made Pakistan a proud nation. "The way Lahore rose for us was simply the best. We are proud of our people and our nation." Waqar said he got emotional on arriving at the stadium on Friday. "The way we were welcomed on our way to Gaddafi Stadium, it was hard to control the emotions. But the way we played it was outstanding and the atmosphere was exhilarating."
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