ISLAMABAD - Former Test team captain Zaheer Abbas has said that Pakistan team needs to do a lot before the next year’s World Cup 2015.
Talking to The Nation, Zaheer termed complacency main reason behind Pakistan team’s 3-2 loss in One-day Internationals against New Zealand. “I was expecting Pakistan to win the series but green caps lost the series because of inexperience bowling and inconsistent batting. Afridi did his level best to lead the team and win for the country in the absence of regular ODI skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, but the team performance was not good at all. Losing wickets and that too at crucial stages cost Pakistan team dearly.
“It was sad to witness, green caps losing the series and hard to believe what was happening. The world cup is just round the corner, and I hope the team and management has learnt from the Australia and New Zealand series and would try to overcome their shortcomings.”
About the upcoming World Cup, Zaheer said there was not much time left in commencement of the mega event. “Pakistan team is lucky they have an ODI series against New Zealand just before the start of the world cup, which will help them a lot to adjust themselves according to the conditions well before the real test starts. It will be hard to judge what will happen in the different conditions. Pakistan team must have to get rid of unpredictable tag, as they have to come all guns blazing. They have depth and ability to beat any top side of the world in any given conditions, but they always just throw away when they are so close from achieving their target.”
Zaheer denied that Pakistan was favourite for the world cup. “But it will also be wrong to write off the green caps in the mega event as they have plenty of talent, caliber and hunger to excel, so they can bounce back in style and surprise any given opponent. I wish them good luck for the mega event.”
When asked about lack of genuine all-rounder in the team was the main reason behind team melted under pressure and failed to score enough runs from the later order, Zaheer replied: “Yes, it was a major factor. Pakistan team missed quality all-rounder at the depth overs. We had quality all-rounders in the past, but things have changed now. The selectors have to work on finding quality all-rounder for the depth overs, who could not only hit some lusty blows but could also bowl a few overs in the middle and end of the innings.”
When asked how much Pakistan team would miss Saeed Ajmal and M Hafeez if they failed to clear their bowling action before the world cup, Zaheer replied: “Off course, it will weaken Pakistan bowling strength if Saeed and Hafeez were not the part of their armory. Pakistan team depends heavily on Saeed while Hafeez also provides depth in the bowling. We can only pray and wait for the best and hopefully, both the players will be available to Pakistan team. PCB is trying their level best to get them cleared and I am quite confident they will be playing for the country in the mega event.”
“If Saeed Ajmal and Hafeez were not cleared by ICC it will be a big blow for Pakistan team chances. The wickets and conditions will be totally different in Australia and New Zealand. Pakistan batting and bowling have to deliver and there are players who can easily play sheet-anchor role and help the country register crucial victories and lift the coveted trophy,” Zaheer concluded.