DUBAI: Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said he is confident his team will beat Australia in the Twenty20 series and go on to prosper at the World Twenty20 championship in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan trounced Australia by seven wickets in the first Twenty20 international on Wednesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
"Our win will help us in the World Twenty20, we need to carry the winning momentum on into the World Twenty20," said Hafeez of the World Twenty20 which starts on September 18.
Pakistan's spin trio of Saeed Ajmal, Hasan Raza and Hafeez shared six wickets to bowl Australia out for their second lowest Twenty20 total of 89 before the modest target was achieved for the loss of three wickets.
The second match will be played here on Friday.
Hafeez denied he was surprised at Australia's capitulation.
"It wasn't surprising because I am confident that my bowling will come good and this is a good sign for our team ahead of the big event where we want to do well," said Hafeez.
Australia's captain George Bailey expressed disappointment over the abject loss.
"I am very disappointed and there's plenty to go away and work on. You don't ever want to be setting those sorts of records. But in terms of the group we've got together and what we're capable of, it certainly hasn't altered my thoughts that we can still be a very good team," said Bailey.
Bailey, whose team is ranked a lowly ninth in Twenty20 cricket, insisted his team can still win the World Twenty20.
"I still think we can win it. Definitely. Absolutely. I certainly don't think we will win if we play like we did today. It's hopefully just a bad performance and one that you won't see again. Even if we gained a tiny bit of momentum, we gave it back by losing a wicket."
Bailey said he hoped Australia, who won the preceding one-day series 2-1, will improve.
"It's a work in progress, it's going to be a real key the way we play spin and the way we play spin heading into the World Twenty20 too, so we're working on it.
"In terms of the World Twenty20 there's no better practice than playing against the world class spinners that Pakistan have in these three games," said Bailey.
COMMENTS (6)
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@syed shahbaz. Retire from cricket.....! Misbah is the most consistent batsman in Pakistani line up in the recent years,if you go on and look into the stats.we Pakistani people get too emotional and forget the basic realities.I rank Misbah one of the greatest captains Pakistan has produced,remember the state Pakistan was after the spot fixing scandal and when there is no international cricket being played in Pakistan who competently he has lea the team,ICC rankings will explain you all the story.hope it will clear your mind Mr syed.chillaxx bro.
@waqar: Sorry, Ahmad Shehzad Needs to Improve Himself as a player in Domestic Level First. @Faraz: Agreed, Haffez should be a ODI Captain with immediate effect. Also in Test Mataches. . I would request Misbah-ul-Haq to retire from cricket please!
Professor!! Professor looks as captain, make him captain of the ODI team, too!
I still think Pakistan has no depth in batting compare to other teams or Australia in this case. Ahmed shezad needs a proper chance to establish himself so far he is denied that fare chance.
if we play as a team no doubt we can win not only against Australia but also in t20
Great team effort! But consistaincy is required. Hafeez need to build with same team. But make sure to keep in squad Asad Shafiq, Hammad Azam & Juniad Khan for world cup. I dont know why they again picked Umar Akmal? They should have taken Hammad Azam or Asad Shafiq in his spot.