Players return to heroes’ welcome
Afridi says team tried its best to defend Asia Cup title .
Spirited performances throughout the Asia Cup gave great joy to fans across the country, other than Afridi, Fawad Alam also made the headlines after three years in the wilderness. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Pakistan may have failed to retain their Asia Cup title but the men in green have won the hearts of millions of fans across the country.
A rapturous welcome was given to a group of players and team officials on their return from Bangladesh at Karachi’s Jinnah Terminal Airport on Sunday.
The group included four Karachi-bound players – Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Anwar Ali and Sharjeel Khan along with head coach Moin Khan, chief consultant Zaheer Abbas and fielding coach Shoaib Mohammad.
In a rare instance in recent times, hundreds of fans gathered at the airport lounge to welcome the players, holding placards chanting slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ – and in favour of Afridi and Alam who scored an unbeaten ton in the final.
Misbahul Haq’s side lost the final to Sri Lanka by five wickets, in what turned out to be an error filled display by the defending champions.
But the national team sparked enough thrill earlier in the league phase with dramatic turnarounds in crunch matches against arch-rivals India and the hosts.
We tried our best to win final: Afridi
Meanwhile, Afridi one of the main performers for the team in the competition said that players gave their best to retain the Asia Cup.
“We gave our best shot in the final,” Afridi told reporters at the airport.
“There is room for improvement in all departments including bowling and batting,” said the charismatic player before adding that the team’s moral was high before the World Twenty20.
Pakistan team deserves respect: Akram
Former captain Wasim Akram who also returned from Bangladesh after a commentary assignment termed Pakistan’s performance in the event commendable.
“Pakistan team deserves praise for its performance,” said the legendary fast bowler.
“I really enjoyed their approach and brand of cricket in the tournament.”
Meanwhile, an overjoyed fan commented: “Our team’s performance proves that our golden era is not far away,” he said.
“We expect such a fighting performance from team, irrespective of the results. The team has won our hearts especially with the win over India.”
The rest of the Pakistan squad is scheduled to return to Lahore today.
Ajmal, Hafeez retain top rankings
Star spinner Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez maintained their top rankings as the International Cricket Council issued the latest One Day Internationals rankings after the conclusion of the Asia Cup.
In the bowling rankings, the top three positions remained unchanged with South Africa’s Dale Steyn and Sunil Narine of the West Indies following the Pakistan ace on second and third positions respectively.
India’s spinner Ravindra Jadeja took a giant leap and improved four positions to win fifth spot replacing Englishman James Anderson. Another England bowler Steven Finn is on the fourth spot.
Mohammad Hafeez consolidated his top position in the all-rounders’ list with 417 points. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews jumped to second replacing Bangladesh’s Shakibul Hasan with 373 points. Behind Shakib, are Jadeja and Shane Watson of Australia on fourth and fifth position.
In the batting ranking, Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq dropped to the tenth place, after failing to reach double figures in three matches in the tournament. Virat Kohli who led India in the event reclaimed top spot with AB de Villiers falling to second spot.
Umar Akmal burst into top twenty club, claiming 19th position after leapfrogging six places. Ahead of him is opener Ahmed Shahzad who improved four positions for 17th position.
Sri Lankan cricketers return to Colombo
Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka returned to Colombo on Sunday after regaining the continental title. The winners were given a warm welcome by adoring fans; Sri Lankan Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was also present on the occasion.
The Sri Lankan team had an immensely satisfying tour of Bangladesh; they won the Test, One Day and Twenty20 series with the hosts before their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup.
The win in Mirpur in the final against Pakistan gave them their fifth win in the event; both India and Sri Lanka have now won the event five times, with Pakistan winning the event twice.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2014.
Pakistan may have failed to retain their Asia Cup title but the men in green have won the hearts of millions of fans across the country.
A rapturous welcome was given to a group of players and team officials on their return from Bangladesh at Karachi’s Jinnah Terminal Airport on Sunday.
The group included four Karachi-bound players – Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Anwar Ali and Sharjeel Khan along with head coach Moin Khan, chief consultant Zaheer Abbas and fielding coach Shoaib Mohammad.
In a rare instance in recent times, hundreds of fans gathered at the airport lounge to welcome the players, holding placards chanting slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ – and in favour of Afridi and Alam who scored an unbeaten ton in the final.
Misbahul Haq’s side lost the final to Sri Lanka by five wickets, in what turned out to be an error filled display by the defending champions.
But the national team sparked enough thrill earlier in the league phase with dramatic turnarounds in crunch matches against arch-rivals India and the hosts.
We tried our best to win final: Afridi
Meanwhile, Afridi one of the main performers for the team in the competition said that players gave their best to retain the Asia Cup.
“We gave our best shot in the final,” Afridi told reporters at the airport.
“There is room for improvement in all departments including bowling and batting,” said the charismatic player before adding that the team’s moral was high before the World Twenty20.
Pakistan team deserves respect: Akram
Former captain Wasim Akram who also returned from Bangladesh after a commentary assignment termed Pakistan’s performance in the event commendable.
“Pakistan team deserves praise for its performance,” said the legendary fast bowler.
“I really enjoyed their approach and brand of cricket in the tournament.”
Meanwhile, an overjoyed fan commented: “Our team’s performance proves that our golden era is not far away,” he said.
“We expect such a fighting performance from team, irrespective of the results. The team has won our hearts especially with the win over India.”
The rest of the Pakistan squad is scheduled to return to Lahore today.
Ajmal, Hafeez retain top rankings
Star spinner Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez maintained their top rankings as the International Cricket Council issued the latest One Day Internationals rankings after the conclusion of the Asia Cup.
In the bowling rankings, the top three positions remained unchanged with South Africa’s Dale Steyn and Sunil Narine of the West Indies following the Pakistan ace on second and third positions respectively.
India’s spinner Ravindra Jadeja took a giant leap and improved four positions to win fifth spot replacing Englishman James Anderson. Another England bowler Steven Finn is on the fourth spot.
Mohammad Hafeez consolidated his top position in the all-rounders’ list with 417 points. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews jumped to second replacing Bangladesh’s Shakibul Hasan with 373 points. Behind Shakib, are Jadeja and Shane Watson of Australia on fourth and fifth position.
In the batting ranking, Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq dropped to the tenth place, after failing to reach double figures in three matches in the tournament. Virat Kohli who led India in the event reclaimed top spot with AB de Villiers falling to second spot.
Umar Akmal burst into top twenty club, claiming 19th position after leapfrogging six places. Ahead of him is opener Ahmed Shahzad who improved four positions for 17th position.
Sri Lankan cricketers return to Colombo
Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka returned to Colombo on Sunday after regaining the continental title. The winners were given a warm welcome by adoring fans; Sri Lankan Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was also present on the occasion.
The Sri Lankan team had an immensely satisfying tour of Bangladesh; they won the Test, One Day and Twenty20 series with the hosts before their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup.
The win in Mirpur in the final against Pakistan gave them their fifth win in the event; both India and Sri Lanka have now won the event five times, with Pakistan winning the event twice.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2014.