South African bowler Dale Steyn (L) celebrates with team-mate after taking a wicket of Pakistani opener Ahmad Shehzad (R) during the third day-night international in Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Novemver 6, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
DUBAI: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn admitted he regretted laughing after getting Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez out for nought in his team's nine-wicket win.
"I don't know what I did. It was a bit silly," said Steyn on Thursday after he had helped restrict Pakistan to 98-9 in 20 overs.
"I think I have got him out a couple of times now so you tend to do silly things and I kind of regret it afterwards but that is the kind of way I play the game and I accept the same thing from the opposition coming at me."
Steyn has dismissed Hafeez eight times in seven Tests, three times in eight one-dayers and now once in Twenty20s.
The second and last T20 of the current series between the two sides takes place in Dubai on Friday.
COMMENTS (42)
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@Dhaka: O really? and Bangladesh is safe right? where jamat -e- islami members are brutally killed ! we neither want a match with u atleast! where prime minister leaves the stadium when opponent is going to win!
some People trying to prove that Pakistan is better than Banglades or whatever it is. C'mon man its kinda ur own insult. Its live proving that hathi is bigger than chiti. Banglsdes cricket is a biiiiiiiiig joke.
Like the country itself, the nation's best loved sport is also sinking.
Is there any light at the end of the tunnel?
@Dhaka: If you really want to see your team on top, it should target beating teams like Australia, India or south africa. But yes, for you and the Indians here, beating Pakistan, making fun of our political situation and other randoms seems to be the whole world! I feel proud to be a Pakistani then that even under such a difficult time. our neighboring foes are "concerned" for us. We must be some special neighbour you guys have. Good luck!
@007 If our so-called aggressive policy under the captaincy of 'professor' Hafeez has failed, it does not mean that the policy and approach itself is wrong/bad/improper. You need right kind of people so exercise a plan once you have devised one. Successful example of MS Dhoni is known to everyone. He is not just aggressive but defensive as well when need be! He is not called 'Captain Cool' for no reason. You make a laughing-stock like Hafeez the captain of your team who doesn't even deserve to be in the team in any format, and then you start examining the usefulness of a certain kind of techinque! Its unjust.
The state of cricket team, its performance and its calibre speaks volumes, and it would be no surprise if opponent team bowlers or fielders roll on floor laughing (rofl). Our team and specially some of the dimwits, dunce idiots, who think they are supermen in cricket, play the game and have their track record torn to pieces, must be kicked out and new young under 19 team players be brought in with a performance contract signed off; Should they become big league players in one years time, then their financial package be doubled of what they get the first year, others who do not achieve high bar results, they should be terminated, as one is as doing a job in a Company. That is the only time and the way we will start laughing on idiots of other teams;
@Dhaka IFs and Wills and Wishes and Whims are OK for you! What you have not done since 1999 and having a GRAND TOTAL of 1 victory against Pakistan in about 25 years is enough for me to not worry about BD white washing Pakistan! May be they will or may they wont.
Not sure who is afraid of Playing in BD? Did Pakistan decline a series invite or did they cancel a trip? I dont think either happened. There are series in place and when the next series in BD will come as scheduled, Paksitan will be there. You count on that....
With a record that your team has, I dont think opening mouth here when Pakistan is down is a good idea but whatever floats your boat.
Yousuf yohanna spoke correct when he said we need fresh blood in the team we need to get rid of old players who are just a liability and strain over the team players like hafeez afridi etc And shoaib akhtar was even right when he said we need fresh legs to bowl boys who are 31yrs old like irfan cannot n will not have the stamina and strength which boys like junaid khan have! Aaj ki match mein irfan proved shoaby right
Sadly, Rahul from across the border, is very right. Pakistan is a laughing stock. So if the cricket team is one too it is not out of line. With 80% of the country not knowing where their bread is coming from tomorrow, how can you expect them to elect people who would do some good for the country. 99% of the elected people, the bureaucrats, are people who will not be able to hold a junior executive position anywhere in the world. And these useless spend force are our leaders.
Next time Hafeez should beat him up. Never back down to a white man . Beat them up first time they laugh and they will never laugh again. in your face mentality.
Not sure what was wrong with him laughing or smiling after taking a wicket.... He has hafeez's number - he could probably start smile seeing Hafeez walking into bat!
Bangladesh is a stronger team than Pakistan anyway. Pakistan cricket is now a former shadow itself. I predict Bangla to win the next ODI 4-1 and T20 to draw 1-1
Fatwa against Steyn; period. Just like it was against Salman Rushdie.
@Dhaka:
We won't mind playing against Zimbabwe anytime or anywhere but against crying babies like Benaglis ? seriously ? who can forget epic Asian cup final post events when you guys complained to ICC :D
Not a Hafeez fan but he was wrongly given LBW. please get your stats right before bashing him
@Dhaka: Words are cheap so you can make up anything. BD has not beaten Pakistan a single time in 14 years! And you are dreaming of a whitewash? It sure will be a whitewash but of the same nature as the last time Pakistan visited BD. Its a temporary phase Pakistan batting is going through and we have found a couple of excellent youngsters in this process. A little more experience for them and they will be ones whipping your bad boys next time. In the meantime keep dreaming.
Today Hafeez defeated Dale by not even giving him a chance to bowl at him. He got out first ball but to another bowler not to Dale! Kudos to Pakistani skipper and his team's performance! These results have shattered the big idols of our world class allrounders from Malik, to Afridi to Hafeez to Razzak! Well after a careful look at the performance let us select them all and drop the only dependable batsman Misbah.
@rahul: Not sure if its a good idea to bring your political opinions into sports. I thought we were talking about cricket here. And speaking of which, the last time Pakistan toured India, we beat India hands down. I would be careful laughing too hard!
To: Sara Khan, kapt slim
Kindly check the heading, it mentions that: By AFP Published: November 15, 2013
Another defeat for pakistan, SA won the second match as well.Pakistani kids are nothing in front of SA.
@H Chaudhry: We will not tour pakistan, as it is the world most dangerous place on planet, we don't want to risk life, instead of balls they may throw grenades.Why pakistan hesitant to play in dhaka, that's the question.We will white wash you this time.
@Dhaka Not sure your IQ level here but where are you getting this info of Pakistan afraid of touring BD? Last time they were there about 2 years ago, they swept you clean. Try to understand international scheduling before opening mouth. I think it is BD's turn to tour Pakistan or play in UAE, etc.
and for afraid of BD, a team that has not defeated Paksitan since 1999 and have a horrendous record need not to be afraid of! Pakistan will always handle BD well. You may count on that.
8 one dayers?
no problem, we are like addicted to it.
ET....stop copying other newspapers....
I am with Steyn on this.
Instead of complaining about his attitude, Pakistan should focus to improve their performance.
@Jibran and @kept slim : It says AFP on top
@kapt slim: Because AFP is the source. You can use it verbatim. ET should add the source though.
@Dhaka: if i remember correctly, we won everything from you guys in our last tour. Our u19 team is way better of your national team. :p
Hafeez, Please must do something in today's match !
Every one making fun of pakistan cricket team, soo sad.Even bangladesh also making fun of us.
I read exactly the same news on Dawn website What is the matter ? ET is copy pasting news now a days ? Here is the link ... see yourself http://dawn.com/news/1056525/it-was-a-bit-silly-steyn-says-of-hafeez-send-off
U don't need to apologize Sten, the whole Pakistani team deserves a humiliating laughter.
A good reason to smile.
Hafeez proved his 'mettle'. People who criticize Misbah's defensive captaincy would now know what 'aggression' is. Hafeez was so low in self confidence against Steyn that instead of opening the innings, he sent in a newcomer who has never opened innings in his first class career. Next came the 'bowling all arounder' who is out of form and knows only one way of playing - hit or get caught. Despite all that planning to hide behind Sohaib & Afridi, Hafeez had to come and face Steyn. This entire series of events proved how 'aggressive' Hafeez is and how well he leads from the front by shouldering responsibility like a man. Misbah belongs to a different league - head & shoulders above the rest.
Honestly speaking we deserve this,
Pakistan really afraid to tour bangladesh for ODI or T20.They are worried that they will get defeated by our upcoming strong team.
Today steyn again made fun on pakistan cricket team that "only one batsman is making some runs in pakistan,where is he? "