Displeased: Waqar, Mushtaq take pacers to task

Pakistan bowlers fail to implement strategies given by coaches in T20 against Bangladesh

Waqar Younis took Pakistan’s bowling attack to task for failing to implement the planned strategies in the one-off T20I against Bangladesh. PHOTO: PCB

KARACHI:
Head coach Waqar Younis and spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed have finally taken Pakistan’s bowling attack to task for failing to implement the planned strategies in the one-off T20I against Bangladesh, which came right after an ODI whitewash against the hosts.

The bowlers looked out of sorts even after taking three early wickets as Bangladesh eased to a seven-wicket win after being set a 142-run target.

Shakib alHassan and Sabbir Rehman hardly met any resistance in finding boundaries and hit the bowlers with the utmost disdain.

World Cup hero Wahab Riaz failed to emulate his form for the T20I and looked lacklustre as he conceded 39 runs off his four overs, while Umar Gul struggled to move freely, giving away 23 runs in two overs.

Spinners Muhammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi also lacked any firepower, with only Sohail Taveer proving economical, giving away 16 runs in his three overs.


“Both Waqar and Mushtaq were furious with the bowlers for not implementing the given plan in the T20 match,” an attendant of the post-match meeting told The Express Tribune.

“They inquired why things didn’t go according to plan and why the fast-bowlers failed to bowl with a change of pace despite being told to do so.

“Everyone was given the example of Bangladesh’s debutant Mustafizur Rahman, who bowled with variations in his first outing, while the seasoned bowlers of Pakistan struggled.”

The attendant further said that the officials did not stop there and asked players whether they wanted the coaching staff to resign. “What do you people want from us? If you’re not satisfied with our methods then tell us where we’re going wrong. Everything was told beforehand, in which areas to bowl to different batsmen, but not a
single strategy was implemented,” the attendant quoted the coaches.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26th, 2015.

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