At the 2024 PSL, Abdullah Shafique took an excellent slip catch, but his celebrations were criticised by Wasim Akram.

Shafique had a torrid time in the slip cordon during the 2023/24 Test matches in Australia. At Melbourne, he dropped two sitters – first off David Warner, then off Mitchell Marsh, drawing criticism.

Following an ordinary start to the 2024 PSL, Shafique was dropped by the Lahore Qalandars. In the match against Islamabad United, Lahore posted 162-7 largely due to Rassie van der Dussen’s 44-ball 64.

Shafique came on as substitute fielder during the game, and stood at slip when David Wiese bowled the last ball of the powerplay at Imad Wasim.

The ball moved away from the left-handed Imad and dipped to the left of Shafique, who dived low to come up with an excellent catch. As part of the celebrations, Shafique put his forefinger on his lips, “silencing his critics”.

Sharp in the slips! 👏
Good reflexes and sharp catching from Abdullah Shafique at slip.🙌#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #IUvLQ pic.twitter.com/KxdqFSEJTS

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 6, 2024

Islamabad were left reeling at 36-5 after the powerplay. They soon slipped to 38-6 before Faheem Ashraf (41 not out in 31 balls) and Naseem Shah (27 in 16) took them to 145. It was Lahore’s first win of the season, in eight attempts.

On the television show The Pavilion, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez joked about how everyone should be happy about Shafique finally taking a slip catch.

Wasim Akram, another former Pakistan captain, lauded the catch, but voiced his displeasure over the celebrations. “Brilliant catch, no doubt [but you should] focus more on cricket than on drama. What about the 36 catches you dropped in Australia? Why don’t you tell everyone about them as well?”

Azhar Ali, a third former Pakistan captain, theorised that Shafique’s gesture could have been the outcome of his anger over an incident inside the dressing-room. Fakhar-e-Alam, the anchor, agreed that it could have been an option.

Wasim Bhai on Abdullah Shafique celebration 'what about the 36 catcges he dropped in Australia? He should quit cricket and start working in dramas as an actor' 👀 pic.twitter.com/ubvv25OyQO

— Ghumman (@emclub77) March 6, 2024

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