Former Pakistan fast-bowler Sarfraz Nawaz, who mentored the team’s fast-bowlers before the Asia Cup, defended the pacemen after they were thrashed by India batsmen during their Asia Cup clash on Sunday.
India recorded their highest successful chase in One-Day Internationals (ODI), overhauling Pakistan’s 329-run total with Virat Kohli hitting a fine 183.
While the clash was billed to be a good match-up between Pakistan bowlers and India batsmen, it turned out to be an anti-climax with Kohli, Tendulkar and Sharma making the record chase easy.
However, Sarfraz, who held a training camp with Hammad Azam, Wahab Riaz and Aizaz Cheema before the team departed for Bangladesh, said poor planning was to be blamed for the pacemen’s failure.
“All our bowlers were beaten in the match,” Sarfraz told The Express Tribune. “And I believe poor planning led to the defeat against India.”
The former fast-bowler also defended Riaz’s show after the left-armer conceded 50 off four overs, helping India’s cause in the run-chase.
“As far as Riaz is concerned, the team management shattered his confidence with a number of poor decisions.
“They didn’t give him a chance in the opening two matches [against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka] after he warmed the bench during the series against England as well.
“Then all of a sudden he was included for a tense encounter and wasn’t even used properly.
“Then the decision to open with a spinner [Mohammad Hafeez] dented the pacers’ confidence.
“Riaz was introduced when the Indian batsmen were on fire. How can you expect a bowler to perform without match practice in such circumstances?”
‘Defensive strategy led the team down’
Meanwhile, former captain Rashid Latif felt that defensive planning led to defeat against India.
“Pakistan adopted a defensive strategy. Their approach could be gauged by their decision to drop a regular wicket-keeper.”
Another former Test cricketer Tauseef Ahmed believed pacers’ failure in the match cost defeat.
“If Riaz failed, then Hammad should have been given the ball.”
Razzaq expresses optimism
Meanwhile, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was confident that Pakistan will bounce back in the final.
“Pakistan should have scored 350. They ended a few runs short and those proved costly.
“However, they will learn from their mistakes and I would still rate them as the favourites to win the tournament.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS (20)
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@Baat ki gehrai: Only the sheer pace of Shoaib Akhtar could have got Kohli out in that form. Either you bring him back or get a genuine pace bowler like him. Rest is all crap regardless what small brains think.
Everyone keeps asking Misbah to quit ODIs and T20s; he is a very good test player and at age 38 is not fit for ODIs and T20s. So why doesn’t he limit himself to test cricket? He knows that at the most he has two years cricket left for him. In those two years Pakistan is going to play a lot more ODIs and T20s compare to test matches. Pakistani cricketers get paid monthly retainer as part of the central contract plus per match fees.
In addition, now a days test cricket is the least popular version of cricket. Playing only test cricket means pretty much out of the sight from general public. One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know the real reason behind why Misbah doesn’t want to retire from ODIs and T20s. MONEY is the real decision maker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well-done india, we must give all credit to indian batting, particularly the artistic batting of Virat Kohli . Pakistan should also aknowledge that the current pool of our bowlers are mediocre and we should immediatley look for new talent.
Our strength was always bowling and I believe that there is no shortage of raw pace in pakistan.
@faiz ahmad: My indian friend when a team loses you have to find out the reasons why it lost... when india lost against Bangladesh, you guys were blaming the bowlers for weak bowling.. what was that then... losers
In this tournament, the team batting second, under the lights, has a major advantage. The evening dew makes the ball wet and thus difficult to hold and control. Barring the first two games, every team batting second has won. Even in the first game, Bangladesh, batting second, did quite well. India was able to chase down a big target with two overs to spare. That is why Bangladesh opts to chase when they win the toss. Pakistan on the other hand rely on their bowling to defend, which may backfire sometimes, as in the case against India. Bangladesh won both games batting second where the opposing bowlers were at a disadvantage. Pakistan should opt to field first if they win the toss in the final.
When our batting works our bowling fails.. when our bowling works our batting fails.. what to do?!?!? And Kohli is no Tendulkar that he cannot be dismissed. He is just a very talented cricketer and has weaknesses like the rest of them. What really got me angry was that all the bowlers were bowling either too short or too full and he was easily driving and pulling them. Cheema and Riaz are not in the same league as Amir.. we should look elsewhere to unearth that hidden gem.. perhaps Talha, Sadaf Hussian or Anwar Ali could be tried out. And why wasn't Hammad given an over or two its not that the rest of the bowlers were doing any good and even in the worst case he would have done better than Riaz. Fazul captaincy.
@PeerSain.
Meethay chawal khao. Shoaib is history. Look to the future. No comparison between Imran and Shoaib
We do not have any genuine pace bowler. Shoaib Akhtar is the answer. Either get him or someone else like him who can give us the breakthrough. Like this we can never remove the stubborn ones like Virat Kohli.
Shoaib still has something in him. Lets avail of his services. If was just jealousy and conspiracy that threw him out of the team. Pure cricketing decision will lure him back or a Presidential Order could as it happened in Imran's case. Zia brought him back. Zardari should bring Shoaib back in the team.
He will train for a while and will be back.Later encourage him to produce more like him. I know some short sighted might think he is a spent force. Believe me he is not. He will serve Pakistan well. Shoaib come back if not for yourself but for Pakistan.
the biggest problem with pakistani bowlers is there complex! they are bowling too many yorkers to indian players...learn from malinga..he is being thrashed lately cuz he is bowling too many yorkers...pakistani bowlers need to come out of a complexity! they need to realize that they are neither shoaib that their yorkers would be coming at unplayable speed and batsman would either step aside with fear or wont be able to see where the bowl is going..nor can they reverse swing like wasim or waqar...learn from M. Aasif, (not his drug habbits or betting) but he bowled the perfect line and length..his bowls with be coming right on to the body not giving the batsman room to cut or pull..be original guys! you need to know your own strengths and weaknesses..you keep bowling those damn yorkers..u will be thrashed! just like Gul was during the wc semifinal!
Dear Misbah,
Please announce retirement from ODI and T20, It's a request.
Peoples who said that, "Afridi is underperforming to undermine Misbah’s captaincy", please have a sence, if he was underpressure and out of form, that not means that.
and also remembered the Semi-Final Inning of Misbah, before critisized Mr. Afridi.
Remember, he was that AFRIDI, who was announce a Captain after the announcement of team of worldcup 2011, he leads the team from front and combine our team as a Unit. and after his retirement Misbah will take over the same team, and in Misbah Captaincy he perform very well.
how many times should Saeed Ajmal and Afridi, performs to win the match?
Is There ANY ONE in the team who leads from the FRONT??????
Poor Captaincy that's all. instead of taking popular decision to include Wahab he should go with the same team, inclusion of wahab indicated that he doesn't believe in his 5 specialist bowlers. Remember in world cup Pakistan didn't play Shoaib akhtar despite immense pressure from Public and critics and that paid off. And Misbah strategy to save match from the End never works he should've go for the kill after Gautam departure which he didn't. i don't understand which slot Hammad is playing a batting all rounder or bowling all rounder. giving easy singles to Kohli and Sharma wasn't wise at all. And too all those who insisting why gul doesn't bowl yorkers all the time, boy this is not T20 he has to bowl 10 overs it requires all energy to bowl yorkers its not that easy. Like khan said : You can't defeat a bunch of wolves whose leader is Lion.. so Misbah have a big heart..
Excuse me! Isn't this the same Sarfraz Nawaz who coached ballers in the camp before the Asia Cup and claimed that the difference would be visible during the cup? I would say that money was not well spent!
Team was heavily relying on Gul and Ajmal but Guly didn't even perform 50% as per his potential specially in last overs, bowled short balls instead of yorkers, b) Sarfaraz should have been in as specialist keeper, c) if Hammad Azam was not there even to bowl few overs then Asad should have played( who is far better batsman than Hammad). d) Afridi's performance was a big question mark, 9 runs in 18 balls by him that too when team was in very comfortable position where he should have gone brakefree from the word go...
pakistan always have an excuse for their defeat and never every ready to accept it at any cost , this is pathetic . there was nothing wrong in the bowling neither the fielding department shown any lacking . the main reason for was one and only " VIRAT KOHLI" who and his masterclass innings which led india to win over pakistan.
Wahab and Umar Akmal are fixers and Afridi is underperforming to undermine Misbah's captaincy. Do away with the lot of them!
Only Toss should decide the winner.
@blithe: I think you are right.
I'll put it down:
It was uncharteritic captaining by Misbah (he was reckless the way he used the fast bowlers).
1) I disagree with Sarfraz Nawaz. Misbah should have continued with Hafeez in the beginning overs.
2) Instead of giving useless advice to Wahab, Umar Gul should have been bowling yorkers instead of short balls.
3) Riaz Wahab should not play the next match.
4) Afridi is not performing in bowling or bating but I think we should continue with him. But his body language is very negative ( it seesm he is sufffering from sour grapes as he is no longer captain) .
5) It is criminal not give slip(s) to Ajmal.
6) We need a professional wicket keeper.
7) Keep it simple. Alot 30 overs to spinners , 20 overs to fast / part-timers. Don't go in with more than 2 fast bowlers.
Just get the basics right and we will win the next match... We are a better team on balance.
if anyone noticed, wahab riaz wasnt given free hand in bowling. umar gul kept on micromanaging him after every ball. that lowered his confidence and he started full tosses, wides and no balls. umar gul should have left wahab riaz alone and let him play his natural game.
oh well, i hope they both play in the final. India really needs them :)