In the opening match of the T20 series between Pakistan and Australia, a significant error by Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, was overlooked by the match officials. Played at the Gabba Cricket Stadium and reduced to 7 overs per side due to heavy rain, the game saw two bowlers allowed to bowl two overs each, while three others could share the remaining three overs.
Rizwan mistakenly had three of his fast bowlers—Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf—each bowl two overs, which was against the regulations. Surprisingly, neither the on-field umpires nor the third umpire caught this oversight, allowing Pakistan to escape penalty.
Australia capitalized on Pakistan’s struggles and secured a commanding 29-run victory, setting the series at 1-0. Chasing a target of 94 runs, Pakistan managed only 64 runs. Despite an encouraging start of 12 runs for one wicket, a dramatic middle-order collapse ensued. Key players Babar Azam (3) and Mohammad Rizwan (0) were dismissed, leaving Pakistan at a precarious 20/5 after three overs.
Australian bowler Xavier Bartlett was pivotal in Pakistan’s collapse, claiming 3 wickets for just 13 runs in his two overs, including the crucial dismissal of Salman Ali Agha (4). His performance put relentless pressure on Pakistan throughout their innings.
Glenn Maxwell was named Man of the Match for his exceptional performance, contributing significantly to Australia’s win. The second match of the series is scheduled to be played tomorrow, promising another exciting contest.
