Pakistan PM's furious response to Zimbabwe President's "Mr. Bean" dig

Those who dismissed the "Mr. Bean" controversy before the T20 World Cup Super 12 Group 2 match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe were in for a rude awakening when the Craig Ervine-led team shocked Babar Azam's team by one run on Thursday at the Optus Stadium in Perth, prompting reactions from the President of Zimbabwe and the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the president of Zimbabwe, first made fun of Pakistan by saying, "Next time, send the real Mr. Bean." Then, within a couple of hours, Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, responded by saying, "have a habit of bouncing back."

"We may not have the real Mr. Bean, but we have real cricketing spirit .. and we Pakistanis have a funny habit of bouncing back:) Mr. President: Congratulations. Your team played well today," the Pakistan Prime Minister wrote, accompanied by a clap emoticon.

We may not have the real Mr Bean, but we have real cricketing spirit .. and we Pakistanis have a funny habit of bouncing back :)

Mr President: Congratulations. Your team played really well today. 👏 https://t.co/oKhzEvU972

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 27, 2022

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Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, president of Zimbabwe, praised the cricket team for their victory against Pakistan on Thursday, but his mention of Mr. Bean caused controversy. "What a win for Zimbabwe! Congratulations to the Chevrons. Next time, send the real Mr. Bean...#PakvsZim," he wrote.

President Emmerson made fun of Pakistan comedian Asif Muhammad, known as Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean. In 2016, Asif went to Zimbabwe while acting as Mr. Bean. The Pakistan Cricket Board published a picture of the team's players practicing before their match against Zimbabwe on its official Twitter account. A Twitter user named Ngugi Chasura replied to the photo by saying, "As Zimbabweans, we won't forgive you...you once gave us that Fraud Pak Bean instead of Mr. Bean Rowan ..we will settle the matter tomorrow. Just pray the rains will save you...#ZIMVSPAK."

The message triggered a flurry of responses on social media, and the Pakistan-Zimbabwe match even gained the moniker "Mr. Bean derby."

Pakistan's tournament is in ruins after slipping to 129-8 in 20 overs after restricting Zimbabwe to a modest 130-8 at Perth Stadium on Saturday. Pakistan was stunned by an astonishing last-ball loss to arch-rivals India in their opening match on Sunday.

Following a disastrous final over against India that cost his team the game, Mohammed Nawaz's tournament nightmare continued when he was caught for 22 off the bowling of Brad Evans (2-25), who had an 11-run advantage in the final over.

The Zimbabwe players celebrated wildly on the field after Shaheen Afridi was run out on the last ball.