Razzaq hopes win will lift Pakistan
All-rounder Abdul Razzaq hopes the breathtaking century which earned
his team a thrilling one-wicket win against South Africa will lift
Pakistan cricket and silence the critics back home.
"I hope that this win will lift the gloom around our cricket, lift
team's morale which had dipped because of the recent controversies and
defeats," Razzaq said after hitting a 72-ball 109 in the second one-day
on Sunday.
Controversy
Razzaq's knock, studded with ten towering sixes and seven boundaries,
helped Pakistan pull off a win with just one ball to spare and level the
five-match series at 1-1.
The third match will be played in Dubai on Tuesday. "Every time there
is a controversy or we lose one or two matches, people start to write us
off, which is wrong. I would request the fans to please keep faith in us
so that we can lift ourselves," said Razzaq.
Pakistan cricket has been rocked by spot-fixing allegations sparked
during their recent tour of England.
Three key players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -
were suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over various
breaches of the players' disciplinary code during that tour.
The suspensions came following revelations in British newspaper the
News of the World, which claimed several Pakistan players took money to
follow orders from a bookmaker during the Lord's Test against England in
August.
Commissioner
The ICC code of conduct commissioner Sunday upheld the suspensions
after hearing appeals from Salman and Aamer. Asif had withdrawn his
appeal.
On top of the controversies, Pakistan lost both Twenty20 matches
before losing the first day-night international in the ongoing series
against South Africa.
The 30-year-old Razzaq, whose century was his first innings of over
fifty in four years, was outspoken in the way that he had been used by
selectors.
"I always play the match as if it is my last," said Razzaq, who made
his debut in 1995.
"I think my talent has not been properly utilised both in batting and
bowling, especially my batting spot has never been permanent," said
Razzaq.
Pakistan is on track for next year's World Cup, said Razzaq.
Batting
"We are a good team and have a very good combination for the World
Cup and we can do well in that mega event," said Razzaq, who missed out
on the last World Cup, held in the West Indies four years ago, due to
injury.
India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh jointly host the 50-over World Cup
early next year. AFP
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