Pakistan had trailed 2-0 in the four-match series following a 354-run and a nine-wicket loss at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston and were written off despite having beaten Australia last month. Chasing 148 to keep the series alive, Pakistan showed nerves on the fourth afternoon and it was only a calm and uncharacteristic innings from Umar Akmal that took them across the finish line.
“Chasing low totals is a pressure game,” said Salman after the win.
“The win shows the character of a very young team. The way we came back against Australia and now, after being own two-nil, people had written us off. But everybody worked hard during the break and it paid off.”
Salman also praised the returning Mohammad Yousuf, whose calm influence in the middle, allowed Pakistan to take a vital first-innings lead as well as help Azhar Ali score his career-best 92 not out.
“Yousuf’s presence has really helped the guys as they’ve chipped in. It’s a terrific win because I’ve been saying all along that this is a young, inexperienced team but it has the potential. The team will become one of the finer teams but we just need some more time.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2010.
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