Arthur bemoans team’s inability to handle pressure
Head coach said bowlers let side down in final five overs as side lost game they should have won
PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
Pakistan national cricket team’s head coach Mickey Arthur expressed his disappointment at the team being unable to handle the pressure as they succumbed to a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of World XI in a thrilling second T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan, batting first, scored a defendable total of 174, with Babar Azam (45), Ahmad Shahzad (43) and Shoaib Malik (39) once again starring for the hosts. The Pakistan bowlers though, especially the pacers, were unable to hold the late onslaught that came their way.
“Our team took some early wickets and defended well in the first 15 overs,” said Arthur, pointing to the ever-increasing run-rate that the World XI had required. “The bowlers took the required run-rate from 8.75 to 12.60, but then we were put under pressure by some superb batting from the opposition.”
It was at that juncture that Arthur believes the bowlers let the side down. “The team came under pressure then and starting giving away some lose runs,” he added. “I was really disappointed by the performance in the last five overs; they just gave away runs and left wide open spaces for the batsmen to play their shots into. We had a good plan but the execution failed us and that’s why we lost a match that we had looked like winning.”
Arthur added that the coaching staff will have a chat with the players about how they crumbled under pressure. “We shouldn’t be affected by pressure. They were good in the beginning so it’s clear that pressure got the better of them. We must overcome this weakness straight away.”
Pakistan, who had won the first T20I and were looking to seal the series, were without pace spearheads Muhammad Amir and Hasan Ali, and Arthur felt the match was a good opportunity to blood some new talent into the team.
“Obviously we are missing Amir and Hasan,” he said. “If they were here, we would have had a better bowling unit but we are still glad to give youngsters a chance to perform. This way players like Usman Shinwari can be prepared for the future.”
Amir is currently on the UK for personal reasons and recently welcomed his first son into the world but Hasan was rested for the second game.
Arthur, however, remained confident of winning the final decisive T20I that will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium on September 15.
Pakistan national cricket team’s head coach Mickey Arthur expressed his disappointment at the team being unable to handle the pressure as they succumbed to a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of World XI in a thrilling second T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan, batting first, scored a defendable total of 174, with Babar Azam (45), Ahmad Shahzad (43) and Shoaib Malik (39) once again starring for the hosts. The Pakistan bowlers though, especially the pacers, were unable to hold the late onslaught that came their way.
“Our team took some early wickets and defended well in the first 15 overs,” said Arthur, pointing to the ever-increasing run-rate that the World XI had required. “The bowlers took the required run-rate from 8.75 to 12.60, but then we were put under pressure by some superb batting from the opposition.”
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It was at that juncture that Arthur believes the bowlers let the side down. “The team came under pressure then and starting giving away some lose runs,” he added. “I was really disappointed by the performance in the last five overs; they just gave away runs and left wide open spaces for the batsmen to play their shots into. We had a good plan but the execution failed us and that’s why we lost a match that we had looked like winning.”
Arthur added that the coaching staff will have a chat with the players about how they crumbled under pressure. “We shouldn’t be affected by pressure. They were good in the beginning so it’s clear that pressure got the better of them. We must overcome this weakness straight away.”
Pakistan, who had won the first T20I and were looking to seal the series, were without pace spearheads Muhammad Amir and Hasan Ali, and Arthur felt the match was a good opportunity to blood some new talent into the team.
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“Obviously we are missing Amir and Hasan,” he said. “If they were here, we would have had a better bowling unit but we are still glad to give youngsters a chance to perform. This way players like Usman Shinwari can be prepared for the future.”
Amir is currently on the UK for personal reasons and recently welcomed his first son into the world but Hasan was rested for the second game.
Arthur, however, remained confident of winning the final decisive T20I that will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium on September 15.