PROFESSOR’S PROSE: Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez claims his team has achieved its targets ahead of the World T20 despite the loss to Sri Lanka on Friday. PHOTO: AFP
Hafeez’s men lost the second Twenty20 to Sri Lanka by 24 runs which helped Sri Lanka level the two-match series 1-1, dashing Pakistan's hopes of replacing the Islanders as the number one team in the Twenty20 rankings.
Sohail Tanvir (41) and Saeed Ajmal (20) put on 63 for the ninth wicket – the best for this wicket in all Twenty20 cricket – but the 212 run target proved beyond Pakistan's reach.
However, Hafeez saw a silver lining.
"As captain I am happy to see good performances from Sharjeel and Tanvir and we really achieved what we wanted to before the mega event," said Hafeez, referring to the World Twenty20.
"We had a plan and we wanted to inject some youngsters to check our combination for the mega event and we have achieved that.”
Pakistan were on course for achieving the target at 83 for three but lost Sharjeel Khan (50), Umar Akmal, Umar Amin and Bilawal Bhatti (all three without scoring) in the space of seven balls and two runs.
Hafeez conceded that losing four wickets in the middle was the turning point.
"We were going well but lost four wickets in the middle which really made the difference, and the credit goes to Sri Lanka," said Hafeez, who also blamed bowlers. "We leaked some runs as a bowling unit. We were thinking of chasing 160-170 on this track.”
We are over the moon: Chandimal
On the other hand, Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal said his team was over the moon on keeping their world number one status intact with the win in Dubai on Friday.
Chandimal said his team showed great resolve in their comeback win after losing the first match, which was also in Dubai, by three wickets.
"We are over the moon,” said Chandimal after the match. “We kept our number one rankings and it's a matter of great delight.”
Openers Kusal Perera (59-ball 84) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (33-ball 48) set the platform for a big 211 for three total, putting up 100 by the 12th over.
Seekkuge Prasanna, playing his first Twenty20, hit an aggressive eight-ball 21 while the experienced Kumar Sangakkara gave the final touches with a rapid 21-ball 44.
"Kusal and Dilshan batted really well,” said Chandimal, who admitted beating Pakistan was not easy. “After that Seekkuge and Sangakkara batted well at the end. You know he's a legend (Sangakkara).
"They played exceptionally well so we had to come back. They have some very good bowlers and we had a game plan and we executed that in the middle and that's why we won the game."
The two teams now play five One-Day Internationals with the first game to take place in Sharjah on Wednesday.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Another embarasing pakistan defeat to add to the long list, great professor, nice to know once again that most pakistan players don't care about the fans or have no pride in playing for there country!
@Mia: Indeed, India proved its readiness just recently in SA!