Srinagar: Former India cricketer turned commentator Irfan Pathan has said that player of the match award after Pakistan beat Bangladesh at Eden Gardens shouldn’t have been given to Fakhar Zaman.
Fakhar Zaman was presented with the Man of the Match award for his 74-ball innings of 81 runs, which included three boundaries and seven maximums.
Following the conclusion of the match, Irfan Pathan took to X (formerly Twitter) to convey his opinion, stating:
“Playing against Bangladesh who is down and out in their confidence, Pakistan needed to play aggressive. They did that very well. Shaheen should have been awarded Man of the match.”
Irfan Pathan appears to have made the statement because Shaheen Afridi orchestrated this victory for Pakistan by dismissing three key Bangladeshi batters in the early stages of the game.
The left-arm fast bowler claimed the wicket of opener Tanzid Hasan in the very first over.
Subsequently, Afridi sent Najmul Hossain Shanto back to the pavilion in the third over, followed by the dismissal of the in-form Mahmudullah in the middle overs. Afridi concluded with figures of 3/23 in nine overs.