Akram slams 'run machine' Rauf, Akhtar blames 'senseless coaching' after India defeat Pakistan in Asia Cup final

Wasim Akram labelled Haris Rauf a “run machine” after the Pakistan pacer was smashed all over the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the high-voltage Asia Cup final against India on Sunday. Rauf, who has been making headlines mainly for his controversial on-field gestures, leaked 50 runs in 3.4 overs as India recovered from a shaky start to chase down the tricky 147-run target set by Pakistan .

“He (Rauf) is a run machine, especially against India,” a furious Akram said during the post-match discussion on Sony Sports Network.

Rauf was taken off the attack after being introduced for the first time in the eighth over, in which he conceded seven runs including a boundary in the third delivery. The 31-year-old was later brought back in the 15th over, at a stage where India were in a relatively better position but not out of the woods just yet, especially with Abrar Ahmed getting rid of Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma nearly getting run-out in the following over.

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Rauf, however, changed the complexion of the game after getting hit for 17 runs in his second over, in which Tilak and Shivam Dube collected a four each and the former closed out the over with a six over deep backward square. The momentum immediately shifted towards India and the Men in Blue simply refused to look behind from that point on as Tilak steered his team to a thrilling five-wicket victory with an unbeaten 69 .

Akram’s former pace colleague Shoaib Akhtar, meanwhile directed his ire towards Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who had been appointed to the role in May after the Pakistan Cricket Board decided against appointing interim coach Aaqib Javed on a full-time basis.

Pace legend Akhtar slammed Hesson, who was with New Zealand when they had reached the final of the 2015 ICC World Cup, for his “senseless coaching”. This despite the fact that the Men in Green had recently won a T20I triangular series involving Afghanistan and UAE and had not lost a single match in the Asia Cup other than against defending T20 world champions India.

“It’s not the team or the middle order that needs to be blamed but the managerment that’s not thinking right. The senseless coaching, I would probably say. Sorry to say these kind of harsh words, but it’s senseless coaching. We have a match-winner in Hassan Nawaz and we have Salman Mirza,” Akhtar said during a panel discussion on the Game On Hai show.

“We’re disappointed and really hurt. It was a ‘Super Sunday’ and the entire nation was watching, but our middle order has been a problem from the very beginning. You’re asking too much from Mohammad Nawaz… again Shaheen Shah Afridi walks in ahead of Faheem Ashraf, and is questionable. Once again you expect the lower order to bail you out with 50 runs to take the total to 175,” he added.

‘India is literally walking the walk and talking the talk’: DK

Reacting to the Men in Blue’s excellent comebacks with ball as well as with bat in the Asia Cup final as well as their clinical campaign, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik felt Surya and Co are setting an example for other teams and have also underlined themselves as favourites to defend their T20 World Cup early next year.

“It is so heartening to see how well-prepared India is. They have their own strategy, they’ve gone in with three spinners. Imitation is form of flattery. I feel other teams look at them and go, ‘I feel we can also play three spinners’. That’s why you see Pakistan started with two, and are now playing three spinners,” Karthik said during the post-match discussion on Cricbuzz.

“Overall, I think India is literally walking the walk and talking the talk. And they have been just great to watch. They are led by a captain who’s enjoying his time as a leader. Can’t say so much about his batting but definitely, it looks like a team which knows what it takes to win the big moments. And that is going to stand India good come February when they take on that World Cup and will be defending champions,” he added.