Last Update on: November 15th, 2021 at 10:05 am
Former Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar was left dissatisfied after seeing Australian opener David Warner bag Player of the tournament award in the recently concluded T20 World Cup.
On Sunday, Australia thumped trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand with an eight-wicket victory to clinch their maiden T20 World Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Australia win their maiden T20 World Cup
After being set for a target of 173 to chase in the T20 World Cup final, Warner, along with Perth batter Mitchell Marsh laid the foundation for Australia and scripted a spectacular partnership of 92 runs.
New Zealand pacer Trent Boult got rid of Australian skipper Aaron Finch in the third over. Marsh joined Warner, and before New Zealand could capitalise on the situation, the duo took the opposition to cleaners, with Marsh being the wrecker in chief.
Warner, using his bottom-hand power, hit Ish Sodhi for a six straight down the pitch to score 17 runs of the leg-spinner’s over.
Warner was elegant and calculative throughout his innings, which fetched him four boundaries and three sixes.
Warner scored 53 off 38 balls at the strike rate of 139.47 before he was bowled by Boult in the 13th over.
Warner took his tally to 289 runs from seven innings in the tournament, ending as the second-highest run-scorer behind Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (303).
Shoaib Akhtar is not happy with David Warner receiving the Player of the Tournament award
Warner, who displayed resilience after suffering humiliation from IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, was awarded the Player of the Tournament award.
Akhtar expressed his displeasure on Warner being adjudged as the Player of the tournament and felt Babar Azam was the deserving candidate.
“Was really looking forward to see @babarazam258 becoming Man of the Tournament. Unfair decision for sure,” Akhtar tweeted.
Pakistan also had a brilliant campaign in the tournament as they won all of their group stage fixtures to become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.
They were knocked out by Australia in the semi-final game after a thundering show by Matthew Wade late in the contest.
Many experts and analysts credited Babar Azam for his astute leadership that changed the team’s approach and made it one of the contenders for the title.