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Former legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar found himself in cross-chairs of some harsh trolls on social media. It happened just after his tweet in which he named Pakistan’s game against Sri Lanka ‘PakBall’ after the end of the first day in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
“Is #PakBall becoming a bit of a thing?”, wrote Akhtar on Twitter. Subsequently, this invited a barrage of trolls on the former star pace spearhead. Several fans reminded Akhtar of Pakistan's shambolic performance in Test cricket over the 12 months or so leading up to the Sri Lanka series. Pakistan, after winning the first Test in Galle, are well ahead in the second Test after Day 1 in Colombo.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Sirf week team ke Against kel skte ho tum log aagr himmat h to Aus and eng ke Against kelna And Sena county's me jito series dam h to 😂😂😂 @shoaib100mph jawab dena iska
— Raashid khatri (@Raashidkhatri22) July 24, 2023
Encouraging signs but it's too early to say that. For #PakBall to become a real thing it needs to pass #aussie Indian and English test.
— Khurram Iqbal (@khurramtalks) July 24, 2023
When it’s done in SA, NZ , Eng and Aus conditions it can become a thing…
— sujith menon (@sujithm71210390) July 24, 2023
Too early to say. Australia tour will tell everything.
— ¥^°%`~€¥™=® (@dhool009) July 24, 2023
Just won one test in last 365 days that too against minnow SL and they call it pakball 😞
— Cedric (@cedric_degree) July 24, 2023
Def winning a test match in more than 365 days it is really something 🤣
— Solanadegengg (@solanadegengg) July 24, 2023
What we do in Aus can we play with this runrate 🫤🙃🙃🙃
— Don't mess With SK❤️HADI (@ork_sk) July 24, 2023
Still Need some Big samples Two Matches Not enough
— Ahemed hussain (@AhemedHussain) July 24, 2023
Fatehaal becoming a bit of a thing 🇵🇰
— Solanadegengg (@solanadegengg) July 24, 2023
The visitors dominated on Day 1 after bowling out Sri Lanka for only 166 in 48.4 overs at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. Pakistan finished the day with 145 runs on board for the loss of 2 wickets in 28.3 overs with an impressive run rate of 5.08. Star opener Abdullah Shafique stayed unbeaten on 74 runs alongside skipper Babar Azam, who was unbeaten on 8 runs.
Later on, veteran number three batter Shan Masood also scored a half-century, scoring 51 runs with four boundaries and a six. Asitha Fernando scalped two wickets for Sri Lanka in the first innings.
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka batted first after winning the toss but they were put to the sword straight away by Pakistan bowlers. The spin-pace duo of Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah scalped a total of 7 wickets together. Apart from these two, star pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi also picked up one wicket for Pakistan in the first innings.
Pakistan will look to carry on with their positive approach heading into Day 2 as Sri Lankans have struggled to pose any substantial threat to the visiting batters. Left-arm orthodox spinner Prabhath Jayasuriya was the only Sri Lankan bowler with an economy rate of less than 4.5, ending the day with 0-35 in eight overs.