LAHORE: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi urged patience with the team’s senior players, insisting that they should be backed through difficult periods rather than judged on the basis of one or two disappointing series, after the hosts beat Sri Lanka in the tri-nation One-day Inter-national series final here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday night.
Shaheen cited Fakhar Zaman’s match-winning 127 as an example of what players could deliver when given confidence and support.
The opener had endured a lean run in the tournament and was also struck while fielding during Sri Lanka’s innings but returned to lead Pakistan’s successful chase of 326 with a blistering century.
“[The] players should be backed.You should not make decisions so quickly after one or two series,” Shaheen said during his post-match press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium.
“Fakhar is an example.
He had not done much in four matches [of the tri-nation series] but he is the kind of player who, despite suffering an injury, came out to bat and scored a hundred.
He had everything in his innings, including singles and doubles.
” The Pakistan captain was responding to questions about the team’s top-order struggles and suggestions that changes might be needed ahead of next year’s ODI World Cup.
He said that the management should not rush into replacing established players, adding that experience and confidence remained important in building a settled side.
Fakhar’s innings was central to Pakistan’s victory in the final.
Coming in after the early dismissals of Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam had left the hosts struggling at 14-2, he added 149 runs with Saad Baig, who scored 74 off 75 balls.
Fakhar made 127 off 99 deliveries, striking 11 fours and six sixes, before departing in the 34th over.
‘BABAR KNOWS HIS GAME’ Shaheen also backed out-of-form Babar, who endured another disappointing outing in the final, falling for a five-ball duck.
The 32-year-old could collect only 118 runs in five outings of the tri-series.“He [Babar] knows his game and is clear about his game plan.
Unfortunately, some of the dismissals happened in the way they did, but that is part of cricket.He will bounce back,” Shaheen said.
He added that Babar was due to play a first-class match against his own team, suggesting that the former captain would have an opportunity to work on his game in the longer format.
IMPRESSIVE YOUNGSTERS While Pakistan’s senior batters have come under scrutiny during the tri-series, Shaheen was encouraged by the contributions made by the younger players, particularly Saad and Arafat Minhas, whose performances proved decisive in the high-pressure final.
Saad’s timely knock of 74 helped rebuild the innings after the early setbacks, while Arafat produced a blistering 61 off just 31 to turn the chase in Pakistan’s favour.
The pair were among the players Shaheen believes can develop into important members of the national side.
“Both [Saad and Arafat] of them have played a very good series,” he said, expressing confidence that the young players would continue to deliver.
Arafat’s innings came at a crucial stage, with Pakistan needing 96 from 78 balls when he walked in.
He struck four sixes and three fours, adding 94 with Hasan Nawaz for the sixth wicket.3 overs.
GREY AREAS Shaheen also said that Pakistan’s victory should not obscure the areas requiring improvement, particularly their fielding and the consistency of their batting and bowling.
He acknowledged that the team had not always performed collectively, but stressed that players were working hard and making use of opportunities to play domestic cricket.
“The players are working hard and going out to play domestic cricket wherever they get an opportunity.
We have some good young players, and they are also helping the senior ones,” he said.
Shaheen was also asked about his captaincy during the final, including the stretches when Naseem Shah was conceding boundaries.
He explained that a team had only one captain and that bowlers should take advice from the leader on the field, while adding that Naseem was experienced enough to understand his own bowling.
He said that Pakistan had struggled to find early assistance for their fast bowlers and had consequently adjusted their plans, using cross-seam deliveries in the hope of getting more help towards the end of the innings.
“We were not getting much from the fast bowlers early on.So, we started bowling cross-seam, thinking that towards the end there might be some reverse.
We could then use yorkers, slower balls and bouncers.If we got wickets, we could get back into the game,” he said.
Shaheen also defended the team’s approach of allowing players to make decisions on the field, saying constant instructions after every delivery would not help an experienced bowler.
RETURN TO TEST CRICKET The Pakistan captain, meanwhile, revealed his desire to return to Test cricket and said he would play a first-class match in the coming days to improve his bowling.
“My heart is in making a comeback to Test cricket.I will play a first-class match in a couple of days because I want to improve my bowling.
There are still many things I need to work on,” he said.
He said that the tri-series victory was important because Sri Lanka and England were strong opponents, pointing to the Islanders’ remarkable 430-run chase against England during the league stage as clear evidence of their quality.
Shaheen, however, cautioned that Pakistan could not afford to become complacent after the triumph.
With the Asia Cup and a tour of England among the challenges ahead, he said the team would have to keep winning matches and series rather than draw too much satisfaction from a single tournament.
He also indicated that Pakistan would look to introduce some new players during the forthcoming tour to Ireland, giving them opportunities to establish themselves at international level.
Loading comments…