Experience made the difference for India, feels the Afghan coach – Cricket News Update
After losing their opening match of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Kabir-Khan-c77039, the Afghanistan coach, feels that lack of international experience led to his side’s downfall in the crunch fixture.
Having won the toss, Afghanistan opted to field first in conditions which were helpful for the seam bowlers. The Afghan new ball bowlers did not disappoint, dismissing http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Sehwag-c2739, two of the world’s most destructive batsmen, cheaply
during the powerplay overs.
India’s batting is currently considered as one of the best but the minnows never allowed the Men in Blue to run away with the show. However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737 managed to play out impressive cameos - their cause helped by some insipid fielding
by the Afghan players - which allowed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 and company to post a competitive total of 159 runs on the board.
In their chase, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745 looked threatening for most part of the innings but continued to lose wickets at wrong moments during the game.
Kabir, the former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricketer, admitted that better fielding and a little more application with the bat could have changed the course of the match.
"We made a few mistakes on the field. The boys dropped a few catches," Kabir said. "That could have reduced India's total by at least 15-20 runs. At some stages we were well in the game but then we lost a couple of wickets in a very short time.”
The former cricketer from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Peshawar-c832, who represented Pakistan in four Tests and 10 One Day Internationals in the 1990s, expressed that experience turned out to be the difference between the two sides.
"Just the sheer pressure of playing the side we were playing, the crowd, the cameras... it all came together. I have to point out that those who dropped catches are very good fielders. I think the pressure factor came into it. India as a big team knows how
to handle pressure,” the coach mentioned.
Afghanistan will play their next encounter against defending champions http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 tomorrow at the same venue and will have to bow out of the tournament in case of a loss.
Tags: