England have gone out of another ICC tournament with the early exit and deservedly drawn flak from captain and players. Skipper Jos Buttler has dismissed the suggestion for knee-jerk reactions even as calls for him to quit as captain continued.
Afghanistan put England’s hopes of making it to the semifinals of the Champions Trophy up in smoke on Wednesday night, defeating them by eight runs in an incredibly close contest in Lahore.
Afghanistan set England a target of 326 and England were bowled out for 317 in 49.5 overs.
Rashid was the last wicket to fall after he was caught by long-off, bowled out on 5 from 7.
Sunil Gavaskar and Wasim Akram, meanwhile, questioned England’s tactics, taking potshots at Rashid-a leg spinner-for not being able to connect properly during his brief stay with the bat-fun for all occasions, mind you, but having scored ten first-class centuries.
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“My question is to all of you: How has Adil Rashid got…11 (10) first-class hundreds?” Akram asked on cricket show ‘Dressing Room’ on Sports Central.
“You (Akram) should explain,” quipped Waqar Younis, who was also a part of the panel.
“Every time we do commentary for ten years together, a stats guy reminds me he has (Rashid) scored 11 hundreds,” Akram replied, before Younis suggested to him as fairest not to mention the stat while he is on-air.
“I’m sorry Rashid, but you didn’t look like… (a guy with 11 centuries),” Akram added.
Gavaskar went on to say that Rashid shouldn’t be let to bat at no.9 and instead should be kept as an opener. The former Indian captain stated, “If he (Rashid) bats at no.9, how is he supposed to score a hundred? There should be a message sent to the England management: He has 11 hundreds; let him open the innings.”
England will want to walk away with a consolation win against South Africa when they play Saturday’s final Group B match.
