World Twenty20: Pacers are a concern, says Hafeez
Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez admitted his misfiring pacers were a concern ahead of the Super Eights where teams can capitalise on the weakness.
Pakistan thumped Bangladesh by eight wickets in Pallekele 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 Tanvir going for 25 in his three. Pakistan face South Africa, archrivals India and Australia in Colombo, and Hafeez said their fast-bowling needed a lift.
“Yes, there is a bit of concern as a captain,” said Hafeez. “Our fast-bowlers are not producing in the manner they can. We expect the Colombo pitch to turn a bit more, these pitches were slightly different.”
Gul, joint second wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals with teammate Shahid Afridi, went for 39 in his three overs during Pakistan’s 13-run win over New Zealand in the first game. Hafeez, though, 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. 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. 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.”
Qasim urges pacemen to add variety
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Iqbal Qasim urged the fast-bowlers to show more variation in their bowling.
Qasim said an uphill task is awaiting the team and mistakes made in the first round need to be rectified quickly.
“It’s delightful to see the team progressing,” the chief selector told The Express Tribune. “There were some remarkable individual performances but the team should not get overconfident. They are in a tougher group and there will be no margin for mistakes. India, Australia and South Africa will not give a second chance and Pakistan will have to be at their best.
“This format is becoming increasingly innovative and bowlers need to adapt as well. Nowadays, delivery like a yorker is also conceding runs and in this scenario traditional bowling cannot deliver much. The bowlers need to come up with variations and need to be sharp.” (With additional input from afp)
Hafeez
“Gul is a good bowler and has bowled well in limited-overs cricket, so I hope he will improve. Every team can beat anyone. We aren’t going to relax even a little bit.”
Qasim
“They are in a tougher group and there will be no margin for mistakes. India, Australia and South Africa will not give a second chance and Pakistan will have to be at their best.”
Wasim
“The positive was that the team proved it can chase targets. But our bowlers bowled wide and short. Hafeez’s decision to open the attack wasn’t wise.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2012.
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