During the second Test against Australia on Day 3, Abdullah Shafique’s slip-fielding error resurfaced, proving costly as he dropped a simple chance offered by Mitchell Marsh.
Pakistan’s cricket team faces ongoing challenges in fielding, especially in slip fielding, evident in the first Test in Perth where social media criticized multiple dropped catches. This issue resurfaced as Abdullah Shafique missed a straightforward chance against Mitchell Marsh during the Melbourne Test.
Despite Pakistan’s early dominance with four quick Australian wickets, the tide turned when Marsh, renowned for his aggressive style, sought to ease the pressure. His attempted cover drive off Aamer Jamal resulted in an edge, a potential wicket opportunity. However, Shafique’s mishandling surprised everyone, costing Pakistan a crucial breakthrough.
"It's like a crocodile jaw trying to catch a ball."
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2023
Abdullah Shafique hands Mitch Marsh a life on 20 #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/NMlTKHn3t5
During the incident, former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh, present in the commentary box, openly criticized Abdullah Shafique’s slip-catching technique, likening it to “a crocodile jaw trying to catch the ball.”
Shafique’s missed catches in the first Test were detrimental to Pakistan, resulting in a massive 360-run defeat. In that game, he dropped the series’ first catch, granting Usman Khawaja a chance for revival and allowing David Warner a couple of opportunities. These drops added pressure to Pakistan, compounded by their batting collapse in the second innings, where they crumbled to a mere 89 runs while chasing 450.
Last Updated on December 28, 2023
Senior Sports Copywriter
