Pakistan head coach Azhar Mahmood did not mince his phrases whereas upbraiding his batters for his or her reckless shot choice, which resulted within the hosts throwing away a place of close to full dominance towards the World Check Champions South Africa within the first Check at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Main by 259 runs on a quickly deteriorating floor with six wickets in hand, Pakistan appeared impregnable. Inside the subsequent 45 minutes, Pakistan had been bundled out, shedding six wickets for a mere 17 runs, setting a 277-run goal for the guests, an unlikely but achievable complete.
“We put ourselves on this scenario [where South Africa have a chance in the game]We had been 150 for 4, after which misplaced 6 for 17. Nobody is responsible however our shot choice and decision-making,” Mahmood mentioned on the press convention as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
“It is easy. For those who lose 6 for 17, that is not supreme. The pitch allowed the ball to interrupt, however the pitch did not get anybody out. Our shot choice was not good. That is one thing we have to enhance. If we will play on these pitches, we’ve got to have the persistence to bat on them,” he added.
Mahmood’s frustration seemingly stemmed from Pakistan shedding wickets in clusters, not simply as soon as, however on quite a few events. Even within the first innings of the continuing Check, Pakistan uncovered its vulnerability, shedding three wickets with out including a run, slumping from 199/2 to 199/5.
A 163-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha got here to Pakistan’s rescue earlier than one other collapse unraveled, with the final 5 disintegrating for 16 runs.”Towards England, we performed on a used pitch, after which it spun rather a lot versus the West Indies. However on this pitch, if you happen to bat effectively, it will get simpler. As a result of the pitch is gradual, it is laborious for a newcomer to get set. Within the first innings, we had begins, however we could not convert 50s to 100s. Within the second innings, Abdullah [Shafique] and babar [Azam] scored 40s, however we would wish to see them flip into large scores,” Mahmood mentioned.
“It isn’t simple, however we’ve got to adapt completely different sorts of pictures to enhance our scoring choices on these pitches. The center and decrease order tried, however the strain obtained to them. At tea, we wished to bat the entire session, however we didn’t. We made these errors, and we are going to take a look at that sooner or later,” he added.
After falling for a golden duck within the first, Saud Shakeel emerged as Pakistan’s finest hope to blow South Africa away from the sport. As tea loomed, Shakeel ticked as much as 38 and seemed poised for a protracted keep on the crease. Nevertheless, on the stroke of the break, he tried to launch Senuran Muthusamy in direction of sq. leg however did not get the specified timing or elevation and holed out to Tristan Stubbs. The actual dismissal appeared to have riled up Mahmood.
“You perceive in Check cricket once you’re susceptible, and it is typically on the finish of classes. Saud Shakeel performed that expansive lofted shot simply earlier than tea. It was pointless to place that strain on. himself at that stage. After tea, [Mohammad] Rizwan obtained out instantly,” he mentioned.
“We despatched in Shaheen [Shah Afridi] to up the ante, however the different batters did not must play the identical high-risk pictures. Even when we had added 25-30 runs once we despatched Shaheen in, that may have been vastly advantageous to us,” he added.