Akram, Afridi react to England’s ‘carnage’ in Rawalpindi Test

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan cricketers Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi were stunned by England’s batting on the opening day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

After deciding to bat first, the visitors raced to 332-3 in only 54 overs at the tea break with the help of centuries by Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley.

Taking to Twitter, Afridi that “it is incredible to see this aggressive approach in Test cricket”.

Meanwhile, Akram, who is currently in America, said that “it’s carnage out there by England”.

Akram and Afridi weren’t the only cricketers who were impressed with England’s entertaining batting.

World fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar, famously known as the Rawalpindi Express, also shared his views on the match and stated that “this England team is surely reinventing the game”.

Whereas, seamer Stuart Broad backed Crawley to break the record for the fastest Test century by an England opener once again in the future.

Yesterday, it was feared that the match would be delayed after several England players were affected due to a viral infection.

"The ECB has informed the PCB that they are in a position to field an XI, and, as such, the first Test will commence as per schedule today (Thursday, 1 December) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” the PCB said in a brief statement on Thursday morning.

After the first match in Rawalpindi, the second Test moves to Multan starting on Friday, December 9, and the final Test of the tour will take place in Karachi, commencing on Saturday, December 17.