Afridi tells Pakistan to learn
Shahid Hashmi
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Wednesday urged his team to learn
the lessons of the 110-run defeat against New Zealand.
The Black Caps rode on a brilliant unbeaten 131 by Ross Taylor to
post a challenging 302-7 before Tim Southee removed the top order with a
burst of three early wickets to bowl Pakistan out for 192.
"There were quite a few lessons to be learned from the defeat,
especially those chances we gave to Taylor and when you give such
chances to a player like him he makes you pay," said Afridi.
Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal let Taylor off twice in the same Shoaib
Akhtar over - once when the batsman was on nought and then on eight -
allowing two straightforward chances to slip past him.
Death overs
Afridi said his bowlers were poor in the death overs when New Zealand
plundered 139 runs off the last 10 overs.
"I think the way we started with the ball was good, but then the
missed chances maybe demoralised the bowlers and they were very poor in
the end," said Afridi.
Afridi hoped his top order batsmen will show improvement in the next
game, against Zimbabwe on Monday.
"Our top order did not work well although we have given them the time
to settle down and this was the first time we were chasing. We need to
learn how to bat while chasing," said Afridi. "Taylor took the game away
from us although the bowlers had reverse swing. But the way he played
was brilliant and he took the game away from us," said the Pakistan
captain.
Six points
Pakistan now have six points from four matches, second in Group A
behind New Zealand who also have six points but a better net run-rate.
Co-hosts Sri Lanka (five points from four) and Australia (five from
three) are third and fourth respectively. Afridi hinted Kamran's younger
brother, Umar can be handed the gloves, if needed.
"Keeping with Umar is very much an option and we might try it in the
next game," Afridi told GEO tv in Pakistan, of the same option which
team used against South Africa in a one-dayer last year.
He also defended Kamran's hard work.
"If you see Kamran train, he puts in a lot of hard work. I don't know
why luck deserted him. He is also upset about his performance and he
realizes it too." AFP |