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On Thursday, the President of Zimbabwe let his guard down as he celebrated the country’s thrilling one-run win over Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup in Perth with all gusto.
On Thursday, the President of Zimbabwe let his guard down as he celebrated the country’s thrilling one-run win over Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup in Perth with all gusto.
President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa looked at his sarcastic best as he trolled Pakistan for its fraud Mr Bean, aka Pak Bean, a Pakistani doppelganger of the iconic comic character Mr Bean, portrayed by the famous British actor Rowan Atkinson.
“What a win for Zimbabwe! Congratulations to the Chevrons. Next time, send the real Mr Bean… #PakvsZim,” the Zimbabwean President’s official Twitter account posted.
What a win for Zimbabwe! Congratulations to the Chevrons.
Next time, send the real Mr Bean…#PakvsZim 🇿🇼
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) October 27, 2022
The mention of “Mr Bean” in President Mnangagwa’s tweet is significant as a Twitter user, Ngugi Chasura, highlighted in the Twitter world about a Pak Bean, Mr Bean’s Pakistani doppelganger and comedian Asif Muhammad.
Muhammad visited Zimbabwe in 2016 for a comedy show, pretending to be Mr Bean. It was reported that he was invited to attend a comedy night, perform road shows, and be a part of the Harare Agricultural Show.
As Zimbabweans we wont forgive you…you once gave us that Fraud Pak Bean instead of Mr Bean Rowan ..we will settle the matter tommorow just pray the rains will save you…#ZIMVSPAK
— Ngugi Chasura (@DregChasura) October 25, 2022
Earlier in the evening, Zimbabwe dented Pakistan’s hope for a place in the knockouts as they showed steely nerves to jump to the third spot in group 2.
Electing to bat first, Zimbabwe found Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Wasim and leggie Shadab Khan too hot to handle. Wasim picked four wickets while Khan scalped three more as Pakistan restricted their rivals to 138 for eight in 20 overs.
For Zimbabwe, Sean Williams top-scored with a 28-ball 31 that saw three boundaries. Skipper Craig Ervine (19, 19b, 2×4), No. 9 Brad Evans (19, 15b, 1×6), opener Wessley Madhevere (17, 13b, 3×4) and No.7 Ryan Burl (10*, 15b) were the other players who managed to reach double figures on a wicket that has good bounce and on a ground with a big outfield.
Shan Masood then led Pakistan’s chase with a 38-ball 44, while No. 7 Mohammad Nawaz added an 18-ball 22 and Wasim (12*, 13b, 2×4) added 34 runs for the seventh wicket to keep hope alive.
However, Pakistan paid the price for losing wickets at regular intervals against an understated but varied Zimbabwe attack. Offie Sikandar Raza’s twin wickets – Shadab Khan and Haiden Ali – and the crucial wickets of Masood virtually sealed the fate of the match.
Playing in his first game of the tournament, Evans kept it cool when Pakistan needed three runs off three balls as the medium pacer first picked dangerous Nawaz in the penultimate ball of the match that decisively tilted the balance in Zimbabwe’s favour.
In the final ball, which was Pakistan’s do-or-die moment, Shaheen Shah Afridi ran for two, to tie the match. But despite wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva fumbling a Raza throw before breaking the stumps, with Afridi well short, they managed to record an unlikely win.
BRIEF SCORE: Zimbabwe 130 for 8 (Sean Williams 31; Mohammad Wasim 4/24, Shadab Khan 3/23) beat Pakistan 129/8 (Shan Masood 44, Mohammad Nawaz 22; Sikandar Raza 3/25, Brad Evans 2/25) by one run
