- Australia secure a 2-0 lead over Pakistan in the Melbourne Test amid controversy over Mohammad Rizwan’s disputed dismissal.
- Pat Cummins takes a dig at Pakistan’s performance while expressing personal satisfaction with his bowling.
- Mohammad Hafeez criticizes the umpiring decision, adding drama to the ongoing Test series.
Australia clinched a 2-0 lead over Pakistan in the Melbourne Test, but the victory was marred by controversy surrounding Mohammad Rizwan’s disputed dismissal, drawing criticism from Pakistan’s team director, Mohammad Hafeez. Hafeez argued that Pakistan outplayed the opposition throughout the game, sparking a back-and-forth between the two teams.
The director after the match said,
“The whole game I will sum up, our Pakistan team played better than the other team in general,”
Australian skipper Pat Cummins responded to Hafeez’s remarks, taking a dig at Pakistan’s performance while emphasizing his team’s ultimate victory. Cummins expressed personal satisfaction with his bowling performance, highlighting improved rhythm, pace, and control during the Boxing Day Test.
“Ahhhh. Cool. They played well. I am glad we got the win.”
“It doesn’t really matter, does it? It is the team who wins at the end,” Cummins said.
“As a team, it was just a huge year in all formats. We had a lot of success and to top it off by winning a series at home, which we pride ourselves on doing, is pretty satisfying,”
Reflecting on the year, Cummins celebrated Australia’s success across formats and a home series win. The captain commended the overall team effort, underscoring the competitiveness of the game against Pakistan.
“Personally, I think I’m really happy for a few reasons. Probably the one main reason is it is the best that I felt like I have bowled for a little while,” Cummins said.
“My rhythm felt really good. I felt like I had good pace. I knew where my wrist was. I could control the seam. I bowled some good bounces. So I felt really happy with how I was bowling.”
The controversy unfolded with Mohammad Rizwan’s disputed dismissal, involving a caught-behind appeal by Cummins. The umpire initially ruled not out, but Cummins reviewed, suspecting a glove from Rizwan.
The third umpire decision prompted an overturn, citing a spike on ball-wrist contact. The absence of a mark on Hotspot intensified the controversy as Rizwan, batting at 35, left the field in disbelief. Hafeez criticized the umpiring decision, contributing to the ongoing drama surrounding Rizwan’s dismissal.
Cummins, in response to Hafeez’s criticism, downplayed its significance, focusing on the team’s victory and appreciating the overall team effort.
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