Speaking to reporters during a practice session at the Dubai Sports Stadium on Wednesday, Spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed was candid in his assessment of the team's performance so far and hoped that an act of individual brilliance, such as Inzamamul Haq's semi-final knock in the 1992 World Cup, would turn around the team's fleeting fortunes.
"We have been poor so far, that's the truth. But the good thing is that the players especially the batsmen realise that they have let the team down.
"We need to be optimistic at the same time. Remember, Inzamam's individual brilliance in the 92 World Cup semi-final changed everything for us."
Mushtaq added that the present team management has their roles properly defined and head coach Waqar Younis is the leader.
"We all work within our respective domain. Waqar is the head coach and if I come up with an idea or game plan, I discuss it with him first."
The former Test leg-spinner, who bowled Pakistan to famous wins at Sydney, Oval and Durban in the 90s, asked fans to keep believing in the team.
"My request to fans back home in Pakistan is that they should keep believing in the team and shouldn't give up on them. We are trying our hardest and need their prayers."
Mushtaq also claimed that at least seven young spinners were under the radar of the selection committee and the management. "If even a couple of these boys deliver, Pakistan would be served well in the next decade," he added.
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We have to gulp down the bitter truth that our batting line-up on a batting track batting first or second is only good enough to post between 150-175 against good to average bowling attacks. Batting on lively bowling tracks and our batting line-up can be easily bundled up for under 100 runs. Our fast bowlers are a joke and its a travesty that the think tank is contemplating giving Sohail Tanvir a go in the next match!! Even an associate team would be a bit sheepish to include someone as bland and benign trundler like Sohail Tanvir.
The sad part is that there just isn't the raw talent anymore which was the hallmark of Pakistan cricket for generations. What we have playing right now is the best Pakistan cricket can offer in terms of talent and it isn't world class by any means. What we had in terms of world class was only Saeed Ajmal and unfortunately he has played his last game now for sure. With this team, it would be a miracle if we progress beyond the group stage of the next WC.
@arun: i Guess you are a hindu or christian, then you cannot simply understand that keeping a beard is a part of our religion (not compulsory though) but once kept with the religious intentions then it cannot be shaved. So please at least have some respect
If we were able to make Sir Donald Bradman our Batting coach, then even also the batting blunders could not have been solved, because these players does not want to learn from their mistake. In every match that i have been seeing since the past 3 years now, i have noticed that each player does the same mistake that they did in the previous match. These players are all for money, luxury and lavish things, gone are the days when our players would really play for Pakistan.
It seems like Mushtaq Ahmed's comments seem to imply we need a hero to rescue us...really? Someone like Inzamam to give us a false sense of hope that we are a formidable team? Sporadic batting performances from a few players here and there does not mean we have a team that is consistent in its performance of putting up a good fight even if we loose a match every now and then.
What we see is a total collapse of a team where we clearly indicate to our opponent that we do not intend to win but we are here to pull each other down. I am amazed at Misbah's performance now that he is not a captain...go figure!
Afridi's performance improves for one game because he is a captain so that he will not be sacked after the Australia series?
Mushtaq please do me a favor and think before you speak...may be its time for you to look in the mirror and take a hard look at yourself before you think you can make a difference...if you have to shave your beard for that then so be it!
Our main concern is batting. We need a batting coach who can teach our batters how to stay on the wicket instead of gifting their wicket in the most pathetic manner. We have a batting coach who had an average below 30 in tests and 33 in ODIs. Comeon, where are Inzy, Javed? why dont we use them to improve our batting?