New Zealand stars slam umpires for ending Karachi Test abruptly, handing Pakistan favourable draw
New Zealand Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
The two-match Test series between Pakistan and New Zealand ended in a 0-0 draw as both games couldn’t produce a result. Talking about the second game, things became exciting as the action in the last session and first session meant the result was possible. In the first session of Day Five, the home teams lost three wickets in addition to two on Day Four.
In the last session, the Babar Azam-led side needed 140-odd runs with five wickets in hand. In the last hour or so left in the game, the team lost a few wickets and scored runs too. Even after losing nine wickets, Pakistan’s last batting pair, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed were looking to win the game with a few boundaries. However, with only three overs left and 15 runs, the umpires decided to end the game abruptly.
They cited bad light to bring an end to the game. Not to forget, the last game ended the same way with seven overs left and 60-odd runs left.
Scott Styris and Jimmy Neesham slam the umpires
After the second Test ended in a draw, former and current New Zealand cricketers, Scott Styris and Jimmy Neesham slammed the umpires. The former took to Twitter and mentioned that both teams had a chance of winning. He added that this is one of the reasons why Test cricket is in trouble.
“Both teams had a chance of winning and we come off the field with 3 overs to go. Exhibit A of why test cricket is in trouble. Well done both teams for battling all the way,” Styris said in a tweet.
Neesham, in reply, said that the game was boring for the first four days but it became lively on Day Five. He echoed the thoughts of Styris.
“You sit through 4 days of rubbish to set up a genuinely enthralling finish then this s**t happens. What an absolute dog’s breakfast of a sport”
