Hafeez’ captaincy under scrutiny after semi-final exit – Cricket News Update
Former Pakistan cricketers have criticised captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 for Pakistan team’s semi-final exit from the ongoing World T20 championship in Sri Lanka, saying some bad tactical decisions taken by the skipper led the team down in the crunch game.
In the first semi-final of the marquee tournament, played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, on Thursday night, Pakistan team failed to chase down a mediocre 140-run target set by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 led Sri Lanka.
Skipper Mohammad Hafeez was the leading run getter from Pakistan, with a 40-ball 42, as six of his batmen failed to get past single digit scores. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-Nazir-c64248 (20) were the other notable performers.
Earlier Pakistan spinners, who played key role in Pakistan’s progress to the knock out stages, struggled against the experienced Sri Lankan batsmen. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene (42) and veteran http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 (35) provided the side with a sound start,
with an opening stand of 63 runs, before the middle order took the charge of guiding the side to a respectable total of 139 for 4, with some late hitting.
Former Pakistan captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kamran-Akmal-c70122 should have opened the innings for Pakistan last night.
"The batsmen didn't play according to the situation and pitch conditions. I thought 140 was gettable in the match but the application was missing and Hafeez got out at a very crucial time he should have finished off the game," added the legendary http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755
batsman, who is also nicked as Asian Bradman.
Zaheer also urged the Pakistan Cricket Board officials to devise a sound strategy for future tours and tournaments as soon as possible, if they want to avoid repeat of such capitulations in future.
Another former skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rashid-Latif-c84084 reckoned 140 was a pretty much gettable total, had Pakistan team played sensibly.
"They could have got to 140 on this pitch but the management needed to take some bold decisions which they didn't take. In contrast http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 used their batsmen very well and rotated them well," said the former wicketkeeper batsman.
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