The ODI series-loss was the first under Misbah’s captaincy.
“I’ve said that even after the Test series win, we have to be patient,” said Misbah following his team’s eight-run win in the first of three Twenty20 internationals on Thursday. “We should talk of the ground realities but we talk on other points. We should talk of the bad performance and the areas where we showed weaknesses.
“We committed mistakes: they scored four hundreds, we managed only four fifties and their bowlers took wickets, ours didn’t.”
Earlier, Umar Gul took three for 18 to inspire Pakistan to a close win. England, the reigning World Twenty20 champions, were cruising at 120 for four after 17 overs, chasing 145, but Gul took two wickets in the 18th over for just three runs to change the complexion of the game, eventually restricting England to 136 for six.
“I had to face a lot of criticism after the ODI defeats, so this win is pleasing. Every win brings joy. We did put up a challenging total and then Gul was outstanding in the final overs.”
Misbah added that Pakistan had under-performed in the past because of such a response to defeats, insisting that his side had not become bad players overnight just because of the loss in the one-day series.
“We have to change this thinking if we are to lift Pakistan cricket,” he said, calling for a more reasoned debate about strengths and weaknesses rather than a potentially counter-productive knee-jerk response to change personnel. “Drastic changes will not help. These same players won us the last six series. Now if, on one defeat against a top team, we change players and captains then we could change six captains till the 2015 World Cup. That can never bring improvement in the Pakistan team.”
Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez, who finished with two for 18, chipped in with the wickets of Craig Kieswetter (14) and the dangerous Eoin Morgan (14) to leave England at 80 for three, a position from where they should have won but Gul’s spirited bowling made the difference.
England captain Stuart Broad said his team lost wickets at crucial times.
“We were well-set but then lost some crucial wickets at bad times and that failed us on the finish line,” said Broad. “We will have to review this match to show improvement.”
The second match will be played today, while the final match is in Abu Dhabi on February 27.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (3)
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I agree absolutely agree with Misbah, look at England. They lost , sorry were whitewashed in a Test series by a very inexperienced side. Strauss even admitted that this was his worst defeat. Did they change teams, captain, No.
Very rightly said by Misbah.....
Misbah is right to some extent. I myself at times react this way. We 2-3 years to the world cup; we need to build a well balanced team till that time..a mix of experience and youth. players like umar akmal, awais zia, hammad azam and azhar ali should be a permanent feature of the team so that they have ample experience before the world cup.
all the best team green with the rest of the series.