SRINAGAR, (PTK): A disgruntled Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed revealed that he could not sleep for six nights over team’s abysmal show during the Asia Cup as they failed to qualify for the final.
Pakistan lost to Bangladesh by 37 runs as they failed to chase a modest target of 240 in Abu Dhabi. Bangladesh will meet defending champions India in the final in Dubai on Friday.
Sarfraz revealed that he lost his sleep over the team’s performance.
“When you don’t perform the pressure builds up, if I say that I have not slept for six days then no one will accept,” said Sarfraz after his team’s ouster from the Asia Cup.
Pakistan lost both the matches tamely against arch-rivals India in the first and second round. They also narrowly won against Afghanistan by three wickets.
“Yes, it is exactly that way. If we talk about the full Asia Cup you can say that we did not perform in any department. Today we bowled well but did not back it up with batting,” said Sarfraz, whose captaincy also came under questions.
“I don’t think we need to press the panic button, wholesale changes will not work. My own performance is not well but we have to address the problems,” he said.
Sarfraz believes that creating panic like situation would not help them to get prepared for the next year’s World Cup.
“There are so many series for us to play and we will try to develop different combinations in the team to get rid of our performance before the all-important World Cup next year, he added.
He stressed the need to work on their batting in order to change the fortunes.
“We should work out on our batting, Hopefully, the things would change in upcoming series,” Skipper said.
Sarfraz admitted the team lost confidence is alarming.
“It is alarming that we lost confidence. Immense pressure was on us and we failed to come out of it,” he said.
Wicket-keeper batsman showed his confidence in young players and asked everyone to support them in hard times.
“This team has the potential and talent so we have to tell them how to improve rather than to keep criticising them”
Asked if he should take rest and allow other players to play: “It’s not my work to decide who plays and who doesn’t.”
Sarfraz refused to admit that head coach Mickey Arthur was doing things at whims.
“It’s not like that the head coach is doing his whims. We had experienced players in Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez and we didn’t sideline anyone but waiting for their need,” he said. (PTK)
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