Cricket: Pacers a concern for Pakistan captain Hafeez
Pakistan thumped Bangladesh by eight wickets in Pallekele on Tuesday, with Imran Nazir hitting a career best 72 as Pakistan comfortably chased down a 176-run target with eight balls to spare in the group D match.
But they head into the next round with a question mark on their pace bowlers, with experienced Umar Gul conceding 43 off his three overs and Sohail Tanveer going for 25 in his three.
Pakistan faces explosive matches against formidable South Africa (Friday), arch-rivals India (Sunday) and Australia (Tuesday) in Colombo, and Hafeez said their fast bowling needed a lift.
"Yes, there is a bit of concern as a captain. Our fast bowlers are not producing in the manner that they can," Hafeez said after the match. "We expect Colombo pitch to turn a bit more, these pitches (here) were slightly different."
Gul, joint second wicket-taker with team-mate Shahid Afridi with 60, went for 39 in his three overs during Pakistan's 13-run win over New Zealand in the first game.
Hafeez said he believed Gul will stage a comeback quickly.
"Gul is a good bowler and has bowled well in limited overs cricket, so I hope he will improve in the next matches," said Hafeez, who promised no let-up in the next round.
"We know that every team can beat anyone else in T20. We aren't going to relax even a little bit. We know we have to work hard," said Hafeez, who praised a complete team effort in all matches.
"The best thing is that whatever role we assign to players they're putting in maximum effort to do the job. All 15 in our squad are match winners and this team is united in trying to do the best for Pakistan," said Hafeez.
Pakistan finished runners-up to India in the inaugural World Twenty20 held in South Africa in 2007 before winning the next, held in England two years later.
They were losing semi-finalists in the last World Twenty20 held in the Caribbean in 2010.
COMMENTS (10)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
In past our pacers like Imran and Wasim was known for thier deliveries lifting from good length causing problems for hard hitting batsmans, one example is shirikanth of india have problem against wasim's rising delivery from good length,
Our current pacers are seems not picking up that technique and mostly relay on full deliveries with reverse swing (which is not present in these conditions)
A SUGGESTION FOR PAKISTAN CRIcKET CAPTAIN PLEASE KINDLY THINK ABOUT DROPPING UMER GULL AND SOHAIL TANVIR FOR SUPER EIGHT MATCHES. THEY MAY BE GOOD FOR TEST MATCHES BUT CERTAINLY NOT GOOD FOR T20 MATCHES AS THIER PERFORMANCES ARE NOW ON RECORD IN THESE MATCHES. IT IS NOT THAT THEY ARE NOT GOOD PLAYERS BUT THEY ARE NOT SUITABLE RIGHT AT THE MOMENT AS LOT DEPENDS ON BOWLING AND FIELDING, BATTING IS IN GOOD NICK AT THE MOMENT PLS IF POSSIBLE CONSIDER ABDUL RAZZAK FOR NEXT MATCHES. ALL PAKSITANIES ARE PRAYING FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE TEAM. BUT NEEDS MINOR CHANGES.
pitches in srilanka are always spinner friendly , and spinners are producing better results for all team but still i don't undarstand why shoaib malik is not used as a bowler.
This is what you get when you let the better players warm the benches or leave some of them home.
Junaid Khan. He really is better than Tanvir and Sami.
If Colombo pitches will turn a bit then please include Raza Hassan and remove Tanvir. But I think they won't include Raza as he is young and a spinner and you need pace bowlers to bowl the last few overs.
Yes, include Razzak in place of Sohail Tanvir. Also use Shoaib Malik as an option in the bowling attack.
Tanvir was supposed to be secret weapon? Good hitting and bowling and now it appears for the opposition he is a secret weapon. He can't field, catch, or bowl so why play him. Only in form and players performing at their best should play. Arafat I am happy about the guy is a winner in his attitude, his fielding and overall impression who would leave everything on the field for his team. He may not be the most talented but he along with Umar Akmal is one of two best players in the field so we need that energy. Arafat I will always play him.
Please stop persisting with Sohal Tanvir! Dont understand why Razzaq is not in the playing 11??
Well why did u leave the inform Junaid Khan and got people like Yasir Arafat and out performer Sami