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In response to Pakistan Team Director Mohammad Hafeez‘s assertion that his team was superior despite losing the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australian captain Pat Cummins offered his perspective.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc’s bowling brilliance
When Pakistan found themselves at 219/5, requiring 98 runs for a series-levelling victory, the game appeared to be on the brink of a cliffhanger. However, Cummins, and Mitchell Starc delivered a remarkable fast bowling spell, leading the hosts to a second consecutive triumph with a convincing 79-run victory.
Mohammad Hafeez’s assertion
Following Australia’s unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series against Pakistan, Hafeez, the team’s Director of Cricket, acknowledged that his side made a few too many mistakes. Nevertheless, he also asserted that, over the four days at the MCG, they proved to be the superior team.
“We played better cricket as a team. I’m proud of that. The way the team had the courage to attack this game in the best possible way. If I sum up the game, the Pakistan team played better than the other team in general. Our batting intent was better, and while bowling, we were hitting the right areas. Yes, we made some mistakes that cost us the game but as a team I believe that there were a lot of positives, enough to win the game but unfortunately at the end we didn’t win the game,” Hafeez was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
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Cummins’ fitting response
Hafeez received criticism for his controversial statement, prompting a reporter to inquire about it with Cummins later. The reporter sought Cummins’ response to Hafeez’s assertion, to which the Australian speedster commented that while the visitors performed well at the MCG, he is ultimately pleased with the victory, and others’ opinions about the game don’t affect him.
“Cool. Yeah, they played well, but glad we got the win. Doesn’t really matter, does it? [if they were the better team]. It matters who wins at the end,” Cummins said.
Hafeez: we played better cricket than other teams
Cummins: doesn't matter, we won
Bottom line: INTENT or no intent, result matter in the end, people remember Victory#PAKvAUS #Hafeezpic.twitter.com/PgnACC7aa5
— Sultan Khan (@MainHoonSultan7) December 29, 2023
As the last Test of the series approaches in Sydney from January 3-7, Pakistan will be aiming to prevent a whitewash.
