http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 has declared India’s decision of not sending its cricket team to Asian Games equal to snubbing the event. This has perhaps reopened the country’s wounds with its eastern neighbour and a traditional rivalry in the game of cricket.
While talking to the media personnel, Sadiq Mohammad, the coach for Pakistan cricket team participating at the Asian Games said that Indians were wrong at their decision to deny their cricket team’s participation into the event being held at Guangzhou, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/China-c40996.
He insisted the other nations participating into the sport to put more pressure on India for making it respect such prestigious event where cricket had been featured for the first time.
Apparently rightfully blaming the traditional rivals http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sadiq-Mohammad-c87843 said,
“India said they would come and they said cricket should be in the Asian Games. God knows why they are not here. Somebody should have put added pressure on them.”
The apparent reasons behind http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 and the much awaited tour to South Africa which is about to get underway. However, the Pakistani coach pointed
out the fact that even the Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan teams had been busy in their international programmes, but still they had respect for the event to send in their second or third string teams for both men’s and women’s events.
Adding further to his point of view, Sadiq Mohammad said, “India said they had to play against
New Zealand, but our main team had matches to play against
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757. India should have taken part in the Asian Games because this would have been a great opportunity for the young players to gain experience.”
Though the performance of Pakistani cricket team in the event was not at all up to the mark, as despite of being favourite they lost the semi final to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745 yet still they marked the event by claiming a bronze medal. In the battle for the third position
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 and bagged the victory with six wickets in hand.
Latif, the only player on Pakistan’s side who had played five one-day international matches prior to his participation in the Guangzhou event, hit four sixes and two fours in the match and led Pakistan to a total of 135 put up by Sri Lankan side.
Three out of those four decisive sixes came in one over bowled by Malinga Bandara, the leg spinner from the rivalling team. These quick runs boosted the Pakistan side’s score to 85 runs at the moment when they had lost 4 wickets and staying in the match
was rather difficult. Rest of the gap was mainly contributed by Bilawal Bhatti who scored unbeaten 24 off 14 balls. His total also included the winning hit of a six upon the ball bowled by Nuwan Zoysa.
After an un-expected defeat against Afghanistan in the semi-final played on Thursday, Pakistan had made a few amendments to its team for beefing up the squad to claim a medal out of the event. This paid dividends and the team prevailed in the fight for bronze
medal.
While playing against Pakistan, major part of Sri Lankan score was contributed by an impressive innings of 53 in eight overs played by Zoysa and Jeeyantha Kulatunga, however, after the fall of the first wicket, the game went a little slower which culminated
in putting up a total which Pakistani batsmen comfortably chased with a loss of four wickets.
Despite of the fact that it was only the third-string of Pakistani team which represented the country in the prestigious event of Asian Games, the performance of the boys in green shirts depicted that the country was immensely blessed with sporting talent.
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