Waqar rues his side’s ‘overall batting failure’
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has laid the blame for his side's exit from the Asia Cup at the hands of Bangladesh at the feet of his op order batsmen, saying that aside from a few good knocks, it's been a generally dismal tournament.
Pakistan lost to the Tigers on Wednesday, seeing the hosts advance to the final as they reached the 130 runs required with five balls to spare. Pakistan's top order had once again collapsed, leaving Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik to do the scoring.
Malik is Pakistan's top run-getter in the tournament, with 108 in three matches, while Sarfraz is next, further down the list with 83 runs. Sharjeel Khan has scored 21 runs in those three games.
Waqar said of the loss to the Tigers: "Both openers are new for Pakistan, Khurram Manzoor and Sharjeel is coming back after a long time so I think…
"Pitches are helping the bowlers a bit and I think that's put the batsmen in their shell. Even if you look at all the matches, in the first six overs, all the teams have lost two or three wickets.
"There was the odd innings – Malik played well, today Sarfraz did – but overall, it's been a batting failure for Pakistan.
"We batted very poorly in the first 10 overs, I think that's where the match was sort of…
"We just gave too much of a lead to them. This should have been easily a 160-170 pitch, but unfortunately losing wickets early on is not helping us. Even in the previous games also [that has happened].
"So I guess, bowlers gave their best and tried to pull the game back, and yes it did come toward us for a while, but that's the way Twenty20 cricket works."
Latest
-
NewsMatthew Waite inspires Yorkshire to victory over Warwickshire
The White Rose recovered from two first-over wickets to post 320.
-
NewsVirat Kohli aware England’s batsmen might have ‘scarring’ ahead of India Test
Kohli celebrated a 3-1 series win on home turf as Joe Root’s tourists failed to get to grips with turning surfaces.
-
NewsEngland’s James Anderson ready for India Tests despite ‘not ideal’ preparation
Anderson and new-ball partner Stuart Broad have been short of meaningful competition in recent weeks.
-
NewsHome comforts but an uncertain batting order – England v India talking points
England met their opponents recently at the start of the year in a Test series.
-
NewsEngland paceman Jofra Archer to meet with specialists over ongoing elbow issue
The 26-year-old underwent surgery in May but his initial return to action with Sussex raised further questions.
-
NewsEngland’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh rearranged for March 2023
That trip has now been moved back to the first two weeks of March 2023, with matches due to be held in Dhaka and Chattogram.
-
NewsIndia batsman Mayank Agarwal out of England opener due to suspected concussion
The 30-year-old opener was struck on the helmet during training.
-
NewsJoe Root more interested in Ben Stokes’ welfare than him as England matchwinner
Stokes has taken an indefinite break from the game to prioritise his mental health and fully recover from a finger injury.
-
NewsChris Jordan holds his nerve to secure tight victory for Southern Brave
Rockets grounded as Phoenix rise for handsome win.
-
NewsJames Hildreth helps Somerset to five-wicket victory over Yorkshire
The game was reduced to 20 overs per side by rain.