Players’ fitness levels to decide second ODI: Nawaz

Former pacer believes MCG's size to test players

KARACHI: Former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz says the outcome of the second ODI hinges upon the fitness levels of the players.

Pakistan take on Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) following their 92-run first-ODI defeat and with the MCG bigger in size than the Gabba in Brisbane, Nawaz feels that players’ fitness will be the turning point for both sides.

“Melbourne has big boundaries. A batsman takes a maximum of two or three runs in other grounds, but at MCG it is easy to take even four runs by running between the wickets,” Nawaz told the Express Tribune.

Nawaz said that players’ fitness levels have dropped since the army boot camp in Abbottabad in May last year. “Our batsmen were fit when the army trained them but now they are not the same as they were. Azhar Ali, Imad Wasim and Sharjeel Khan all have put on weight and that could become a problem.”

The inventor of reverse swing Nawaz said that the team has to take right decision in bowling if they want to level the series. “In the first ODI, the Pakistani bowlers had done really well to get the situation under control; they, however, lost that control when Matthew Wade scored that remarkable century,” he said.

“But if the spinners would have been brought in when Australia were 78-5, Pakistan would not have lost that match. They should avoid making the same mistakes in the second ODI.”

Talking about Pakistan’s batting line-up, Nawaz rued Azhar’s injury saying that the only player who could play long innings won’t be part of the starting XI. “Azhar is the only player who has potential to play long innings. However, he won’t be available which is a huge loss for Pakistan. The team will suffer as Azhar is not only a good batsman but also a good captain and as team will be led by Muhammad Hafeez it is difficult to say if Pakistan will do better than the first ODI.”

The 68-year-old also slammed the team management for the poor selection of players. “When you are going to play against the best team in the world, you have to get the best players. Likes and dislikes should not define the player selection strategy. Some of the current players are not in the best of form and the selectors have picked them,” he said.

Nawaz also said that Kamran Akmal should have been brought in the squad rather than Hafeez because the former has been performing really well in the domestic circuit.