South Africa fast-bowler Dale Steyn is somewhat ‘embarrassed’ after dismissing Mohammad Hafeez for the 12th time in 18 international innings; Steyn later called his antics silly. PHOTO: AFP
After the toss in the first match of the Twenty20 series, Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez had claimed that his team would play with flair, whereas his rival Faf du Plessis said that the buzz word for his team is intensity. As it turned out, South Africa was too intense and overwhelming for the flair of Hafeez and his men.
Pakistan’s nine-wicket loss in the first of the two Twenty20 matches was centred on another horrendous batting performance — a constant feature of the current tour.
Neither of the reinforcements for Twenty20s in seasoned campaigners Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq worked as Pakistan packed in from the outset, failing to cross even the 100-run ‘milestone’.
The 99-run target proved to be a walk in the park for the Proteas, who achieved it after losing just a wicket with over five overs to spare.
The loss relegated Hafeez’s side to third from the second spot in the ICC Twenty20 rankings.
The one-sided defeat, which was a result of yet another batting slump, also prompted calls of a massive overhaul in the team.
“The board needs to take drastic steps,” former pacer Shoaib Akhtar reacted after the loss. “We have hit the bottom and there is no option left than to improve. There is a need to overhaul in the team.”
Beleaguered Hafeez remains hopeful
However, Hafeez insisted the players he has in the team were the best available for this format.
“I personally feel that the team we have in the UAE is the best and that’s the reason why they are here,” said Hafeez.
Speaking on the return of senior players who have been recalled, he said, “As a captain, I feel they are experienced enough. They are good players and they have performed for Pakistan and I believe they will do it for the team again”.
The Twenty20 captain admitted that the batsmen failed collectively in the first match.
“In this game we all failed, it’s not just about one individual.
“The batting is not doing what it is required to do. The batsmen are trying their level best in practice but they are not delivering during the game. The boys are capable and we still feel we are strong enough to come back harder on Friday [today].”
Test loss was a wake-up call: Steyn
Dale Steyn who claimed man of the match for figures of three off 15 said Pakistan failed to click.
“They are one of the best Twenty20 sides and deserve that respect,” said Steyn. “Even though have a balanced side but they failed to click.”
He added that the loss in the first Test of the series had rejuvenated his team.
“We got a massive wake-up call in that loss. We knew we had to find a way of becoming a better team as quickly we could do and we did.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (5)
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@Qasim:
Ooh what a surprise (not)
Indian Tv channels are using derogatory remarks about Pakistani players . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dF5l41aQ
We are in real doubt that pakistan will be eligible for world cup 2015.
It's an insult to pakistan cricket team that steyn still laughing at pakistan cricket team as picture depicts !
Until club level cricketers like Hafeez, Malik, Tanvir, Akmal, and old players like Afridi, Razzaq (get a bone scan done and you will know their real ages, both are close to 39) are all dropped and we induct a new young team of players like Hammad Azam, Usman Qadir, Babar Azam, Sami Aslam, Mohammad Rizwan, Raza Hassan and bring in other young promising players like Azeem Ghumman, Sharjeel Khan, Usman Salahuddin etc we will never win against major teams.