WATCH: Mark Waugh tears into Abdullah Shafique after another dropped catch

The elegance of Babar Azam's drives, the fiery yorkers of Shaheen Afridi, the destructive hitting of Iftikhar Ahmed – these are the images that often paint Pakistan cricket. But lurking beneath the veneer of individual brilliance lies a persistent shadow: fielding frailties. Time and again dropped catches, misjudged ground fielding, and fumbled throws have cost Pakistan dearly, turning potential triumphs into agonizing defeats.

The shadows of dropped catches and misjudged ground fielding continue to follow Pakistan's tour of Australia. Even practice has not been immune, with a moment in a recent warm-up match highlighting the fragility of their fielding. Babar Azam, the elegant maestro with the willow, saw his misdirected throw during the tour game result in extra runs for the opposition.

These lapses have not gone unnoticed. In a bid to shore up the team's fielding discipline, Pakistan's team director, Mohammad Hafeez has implemented a novel, albeit stern, solution: a financial penalty for any display of lethargy or lack of commitment on the field. A hefty $500 fine awaits any player who fails to meet the expected intensity and focus.

Watch the video below:

On dropped catch ..



Mark Waugh - it's like a crocodile jaw trying to catch a ball.



Mark Waugh indirectly trolling Pakistan team fielding 😅😅 #PAKvAUS #PakistanCricketpic.twitter.com/nSd9tu4WaI

— Simple man (@ArbazAh87590755) December 28, 2023

Abdullah Shafique's misery continues

The man at the centre of their fielding miseries is Abdullah Shafique. The Boxing Day Test has been a microcosm of his struggles, with three spills already marring his performance. Each miss has been a huge blow to Pakistan's aspirations of earning a rare victory on Australian soil.

Today's fumble of Mitchell Marsh on 20 was the epitome of this agonising trend. Marsh edged a ball bowled by Aamer Jamal and gifted Shafique a golden opportunity. But as the ball sailed towards him, uncertainty clouded his movements, the chance slipping through his grasp like a wisp of smoke. The consequences were brutal: Marsh, emboldened by his reprieve, carved out a defiant 96, dragging Australia back from the brink of collapse.

Mark Waugh on commentary slammed Shafique for his poor performance. "I think you've got to get Shafique out of there. He has not looked like catching one all series. He's hung on to one, only just but at some stage, you got to get the hook out and say 'Out of there son'. It's like a crocodile jaw trying to catch a ball," he said.