“Our openers looked panicked”

Published October 5, 2012

Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Basit Ali, Asif Iqbal, pakistan sri lanka, pakistan sri lanka wt20
“The application was missing.” -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Former players spoke for millions of disappointed fans Friday after Pakistan crashed out of the World Twenty20 semi-finals, blaming defeat on poor planning and lacklustre batting.

Pakistan lost to hosts Sri Lanka by 16 runs in the first semi-final Thursday, having failed to beat a modest 140-run target.

“Our openers looked in a panic,” former captain Asif Iqbal told AFP.

“The target was not easy on a slow turning pitch, but had the planning been there it could have been chased, but batsmen did not try to stay at the wicket.”

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (3-25) and Ajantha Mendis (2-27) derailed Pakistan, who were eventually restricted to 123-7 in 20 overs.

Other former Pakistani stars blamed poor selection for the batting collapse.

“We should have played Asad Shafiq. He is our most composed and technically sound player and he should have been in the team,” said former captain Aamir Sohail.

Former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir said veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq should not have been dropped. He was replaced by paceman Sohail Tanvir.

“You needed proper planning to chase down a total,” said another former captain, Zaheer Abbas.

“Our batsmen didn't play according to the situation and pitch conditions. I thought 140 was gettable in the match but the application was missing.”

Popular all-rounder Shahid Afridi was also singled out for criticism.

Player of the tournament when Pakistan won the World Twenty20 in 2009, Afridi managed just 30 runs in five innings and took four wickets in six matches.

“He was cruelly out of form,” said former batsman Basit Ali.

“I think he should retire now because he was a big disappointment in the tournament. Hafeez also made a blunder by insisting on opening the innings.”

Opinion

Editorial

Trade cooperation
Updated 05 Jul, 2024

Trade cooperation

Will Shehbaz be able to translate his dream of integrating Pakistan within the region by liberalising trade cooperation with South and Central Asia?
Creeping militancy
05 Jul, 2024

Creeping militancy

WHILE military personnel and LEAs have mostly been targeted in the current wave of militancy, the list of targets is...
Dodging culpability
05 Jul, 2024

Dodging culpability

IT is high time the judiciary put an end to the culture of impunity that has allowed the missing persons crisis to...
Elusive justice
Updated 04 Jul, 2024

Elusive justice

Till the Pakistani justice system institutionalises the fundamental principles of justice, it cannot fulfil its responsibilities.
High food prices
04 Jul, 2024

High food prices

THAT the country’s exports of raw food rose by 37pc in the last financial year over the previous one is a welcome...
Paralysis in academia
04 Jul, 2024

Paralysis in academia

LIKE all other sectors, higher education is not immune to the debilitating financial crisis that is currently ...