A lighthearted moment unfolded during the second ODI between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval, providing humour both on and off the pitch. During a commentary stint, former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram, joined by Brad Haddin and James Brayshaw, was humorously questioned by Brayshaw about why so many dismissals during Akram and Waqar Younis’ era were either LBW or bowled.
Without missing a beat, Akram replied with a deadpan face, joking that he and Waqar relied on these modes of dismissal because they were often wary of fielders dropping catches, especially with slips claiming visibility issues whenever they fumbled a chance. Just minutes later, in a comical twist, Shaheen Afridi dropped a straightforward catch at deep backward square-leg, which Matthew Short had middled off a hook shot.
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Using the reverse-cup technique, Afridi misjudged the ball’s height, letting it slip through his hands—a scene that left Naseem Shah visibly disappointed. Akram remarked that the missed catch could have shifted the match’s momentum if it had been taken. Despite the drop, however, the mishap didn’t end up costing Pakistan dearly.
Wasim Akram told us he couldn’t trust his fielders, and the very next ball… 🫣 pic.twitter.com/iZpa4rvhRx
— Triple M Cricket (@triplemcricket) November 8, 2024
Mathew Short was dismissed shortly after, and the entire Australian batting lineup soon followed suit, undone by the sharp bowling of Haris Rauf and tight wicket-keeping by Mohammad Rizwan. Rauf managed five wickets, with Rizwan claiming four catches out of the five dismissals, tying the Pakistan ODI record of six catches in a match, previously set by Sarfaraz Ahmed.
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In reply, Pakistan’s openers set off aggressively, putting Australia under early pressure. Saim Ayub missed his century but set the tone for the innings, with Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam steadying the chase. Together, they comfortably took Pakistan to victory, crossing the line with a substantial 23.3 overs to spare, sealing a memorable win that kept fans buzzing with excitement both for Pakistan’s performance and Akram’s perfectly timed banter.
