Pakistan’s close defeat by one wicket against South Africa in Chennai on October 27 has opened a can of worms for them as criticism has been pouring in left, right, and centre.

Defending 270 for victory, Pakistan made a game out of South Africa’s run-chase by reducing them to 260-9 after they were 235-5. However, they failed to take the final wicket as the South African spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi knocked off the last 11 runs in a tense finish.

Nawaz was at the receiving end of the finishing runs as he was handed the 48th over after all three seamers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Wasim Jr had finished their quota of 10 overs each.

However, Nawaz was unable to handle the pressure: he sent down two relatively loose deliveries that were enough for Maharaj and Shamsi to close off the run chase.

Babar Azam was heavily criticised for the move of giving Nawaz the over instead of Usama Mir, who had taken two wickets in the innings before that, although it’s debatable whether that was indeed a wrong call by Babar or not.

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Along with the captain, Nawaz came in the firing line as well from Pakistan fans and media. Aamer Sohail, former captain and chief selector, said after the game that he was never convinced about playing Nawaz. “Whenever there were talks of playing Nawaz, I wasn’t convinced.

Elaborating on his point, Sohail explained that Nawaz has cost his team by hitting out prematurely at the World Cup. “That is because, before today’s game, he slogged and got out when there were enough balls remaining twice, against India and against Australia. And now again in this game.

“Today he got out in the 46th over. 24 balls were left. Even if he would have scored 15 out of the 24 balls, it would have made a lot of difference.”

Sohail was particularly critical of Nawaz’s bowling, going to the extent of saying that it’s worse than that of a club cricketer’s: “And then when you see his bowling, he’s not even a club level cricketer, dude, and you’re playing him for Pakistan.”