We need to improve in all three departments: Afridi

T20 captain hopes to turn tables on high-flying hosts in Mirpur one-off

KARACHI: Pakistan’s humbling defeat against Bangladesh in the ODI series have set the alarm bells going and on the eve of the T20 players’ departure for the one-off game set to be played in Mirpur on Friday, captain Shahid Afridi demanded an all-round improvement.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the recently retired ODI superstar stated that his charges were motivated despite the reversal against the hosts in the 50-over format.

“The overall game needs to improve and that means in all three departments,” he said.

Afridi, who has represented Pakistan in a record 77 T20 internationals, wants the batsmen to take responsibility and bat in pairs to strengthen the perennial weakness of the team.

“In any format, partnerships are the key,” he said. “I am not demanding century-plus partnerships. I want the players to make significant contributions with the bat and even 40s and 50s matter a lot.”

The all-rounder added that he has worked hard on his bowling since returning from the World Cup and has his sights on the World Twenty20, set to be played in India next year, and wants to build a team for the premier event.

“I am happy with the team that I have been given. We might experiment if needed against Zimbabwe but the focus is to retain the core players who will be useful in the T20 world championships next year,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohail Tanvir, Mukhtar Ahmed and Afridi left for Dhaka from Lahore on Sunday night. The quartet will join the rest of the squad members who are also a part of the ODI team.

 

 

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