Sarfraz Nawaz, former Pakistani pacer, claimed that poor planning on part of the team management had led to Pakistan’s 6-wicket defeat by India during the 5th Asia Cup match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
“All our bowlers were beaten in the match,” said Safraz, who had held a training camp with pacers Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema, and Hammad Azam prior to the team’s departure for Bangladesh. “And I believe poor planning led to the defeat against India.”
The Pakistan team went into the tournament with a strong bowling attack, but the players failed to deliver against India. After the batsmen set up a remarkable total of 329, aided by the 224-run opening stand of Mohammad Hafeez (105) and Nasir Jamshed (112), the bowlers crumbled under the belligerence of Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, and the hard-hitting Virat Kohli. India’s 23-year-old vice-captain made a mockery of the Men In Green’s target by contributing an astonishing 183 runs to his sides’ total, guiding them to an easy 6-wicket victory with 13 balls to spare.
The spinners, particularly Saeed Ajmal who had starred in the series against England, were lackluster, while the pacers were downright disappointing. Umar Gul was the only one who managed to claim any wickets (2 for 65), with Aizaz Cheema (8-60-0) and particularly Wahab Riaz (4-50-0) proving to be shockingly expensive. However, Nawaz defended the pacers, saying they had not been utilized properly.
“As far as Riaz is concerned, the team management shattered his confidence with a number of poor decisions,” Nawaz said, pointing out that Riaz had not been used during the series against England, or in the two opening matches of the Asia Cup, against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
“Then all of a sudden he was included for a tense encounter and wasn’t even used properly,” he pointed out in an exclusive interview to The Express Tribune.
He took issue with the decision to open with a spinner, saying it had dented the confidence of the pacers, and also criticised the timing of the left-amer’s spell.
“Riaz was introduced when the Indian batsmen were on fire. How can you expect a bowler to perform without match practice in such circumstances?” questioned Sarfraz.
Ajmal doubts Sachin
Tendulkar’s ability: The raging controversy surrounding Pakistan off spinner Saeed Ajmal’s bowling action intensified after the bowler took a dig at Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Ajmal, who got Sachin out in the Asia Cup match on Sunday said If Sachin can’t read doosra, then he is nearing end of his career, Times Now reported.
The ICC on Monday sought to put a lid to the controversy, saying the tweaker was well within the allowed degree of tolerance.
According to a television report, Indian cricketers have raised their concern over the bowler’s action after their stupendous six-wicket victory over arch rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup match on Sunday.
BCCI officials, however, did not confirm whether the team had raised objections over Ajmal’s action.
Chasing a victory target of 330, India rode on a superb batting display by young Virat Kohli to overwhelm their opponents with more than two overs to spare.
