We have to improve our game in remaining ODIs: Misbah
-File photo by AFP
CHENNAI: Pakistan ODI skipper Misbah-ul-Haq said his team was “lucky” on Sunday to overcome India in the first One-day International and they need to work harder and improve a fair bit to tame the hosts in the second match on Thursday.
“We were lucky to win because India gave us a tough time after being in a tricky situation,” said Misbah in the post-match press conference.
“They lost five wickets early but still went on to make 227 and we couldn’t chase it down easily. So I think we have to improve a lot of things. To win the next match, we will have to work hard and improve a fair bit,” he said.
“We have to really improve our fielding, our death over and Power-Play bowling. After these ODI rules specially, we will have to be tighter in our play,” said Misbah.
“When two batsmen are set, it is difficult to bowl to them like it was to Dhoni. So we will have to come up with plans with four fielders, how to block the batsmen. Also we have to improve our batting performances,” he added.
“Nasir and Younis batted excellently for us but I will also make a special mention of Azhar. In the first six overs from (Bhuvneshwar) Kumar, the ball was swinging a lot. Seeing off the first 10-12 overs was the base for our victory and after that, Younis showed his experience,” Misbah said.
“At that time, we were in a spot. The partnership and increasing the run-rate by Jamshed and Malik was the turning point of the game.”
Junaid Khan was another important contributor for Pakistan as he scalped four top-order wickets early on to put pressure on India and his captain Misbah said he expected the young pacer to deliver.
“We were expecting him to bowl well because Junaid has bowled these kind of spells before. The conditions helped, there was moisture in the pitch and he is a seam bowler and he met the expectations and bowled the kind of spell we had been hoping for,” Misbah said.
Misbah also backed Ajmal, who has been lacklustre so far, saying the spinner always delivers when it matters.
“I think there is no issue. There has been a bit of a gap, so maybe it is a factor but he is a match-winner. At any time, in this situation if he doesn’t perform, it’s okay but he always performs in difficult situations. That is more important for us,” he said.
According to the new rules, one new ball will be used at each end, bowlers will be allowed two bouncers an over, there will be no bowling Power Play, the batting Power Play will have to be completed before the 40th over, and at no stage in the innings will more than four fielders be allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Asked about his feedback, Mishbah said:
“It is difficult for the bowlers, especially at the end in the last 10 overs, it is almost semi-Power Play. Spinners bowling and then bringing in the non-regulars is difficult. To adjust to the rules, it will take time for teams, captains and even bowlers.”
He also praised the Indian bowlers for putting pressure on the Pakistani batsmen till the end. “I think they were bowling well and these sort of situations when you try to finish it early, it is really difficult.”—Agencies
Mr. Misbah!
First of all, you should improve your fielding because its Dhoni’s catch which you spilled when he was only 18. If you haven’t spilled that catch at that time then india would never cross even 200. That catch cost us dearly till the last over Dhoni made 113 means added 95 additional runs after that foolish work by you as a captain. All the hardwork went into vain because of your foolish work in the field. Without blaming any other player of the team, you should sit and check as a whole what was your performance in that crucial particular match.
A captain with confidence in his team players would have said the following : It was lucky for india that misbah dropped Dhoni’s catch else we would have defeated them with 10 wickets because of the extra confidence that a low score would have brought for our openers. His statement looks like he is ready to loose the second ODI because we can not be lucky twice in a row.
Misbah is one of those players that Intikhab alam called no brains. When they played well he thinks it was luck that Jamshed made a 100,Younus made a fifty and Malik made 30s.it was luck that junaid got 4 wickets. While it was good catch dropping and dhoni was not lucky that Misbah dropped his catch.He really palyed good
Pakistan is already improved and has been very consistent in last 2 years.You don’t defeat India in India with luck and you need more than luck to blank England 3-0 in Test.They have been consistent team and some players have settled down well.
What a ridiculous statement by Misbah. Actually everybody played good except Misbah. He is the one who needs to improve. He dropped Dhoni when he was on 16, then batted like he had never played cricket before and on top of that poor captaincy. I don’t know why he is even in the team.
Shehzad, you are realy after Misbah as if you were the real candidate for captaincy. Misbah is not criticizing anyone by name rather using the word ‘ We’ . That includes himself.
could not have said better and I am wondering why you got thumbs down……………
Now that we know every thing in so much detail…we must correct ourselves and make a proper
game plan,what to do from ball one right up to the end of the game. Misbah has talked so much in detail and clearly, then what is the problem in improving our batting ?.Every thing is so much open learn from the Australians.
What about the simple catch from Dhoni that Misbah dropped? How come he has not made any mention of that? Dhoni went on to hit a century.
What about Jamshed’s catch dropped by Yuvraj ? What about his being out when bat and pad catch by Sehwag ? He was not even dropped. What about Azhar’s plumb LBW on second ball of Pakistan innings? If you apply these ‘what if’ logic, Pakistan should have never won had it lost the toss.
Best of Luck…a person cannot be Lucky everytime…you are correct Misbah., all the Best.