Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar reiterated Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has made some blunders during their game against India at the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019 in Manchester.
The Mumbaikar reiterated that Pakistan had lacked totally in ‘imagination’ while adding Sarfaraz looked ‘confused’ with his choices.
On Sunday, Sarfraz, who even yawned while donning the gloves seemed equally pathetic in his approach with fielders after opting to field first at the Old Trafford.
Sarfraz a mere spectator at the Manchester:
While citing an example of bizarre fielding positions, Tendulkar stated Sarfraz had stationed a field at short mid-wicket region for Wahab Riaz before introducing slip field for a leg-spinner Shadab Khan.
“I thought he (Sarfaraz) was confused because when Wahab (Riaz) was bowling he had a short mid-wicket. And when Shadab (Khan) came on to bowl he had a slip for him,” PTI quoted Tendulkar as saying.
As India dominated Pakistan thorough in all departments, Tendulkar further stated Sarfraz’s approach towards the high-profile clash was not right at all. He followed it up by saying that such conditions tend to make things difficult for a leg-spinner pragmatically when he fails to leave an impact with his right line and length.
Also, the prominent cricketer added the Men in Green lacked in their plans in the high marquee clash.
“They lacked imagination, lacked out of the box thinking. In these conditions, it becomes difficult for a leg-spinner to grip the ball, especially when he’s not gett
ing the right line and length. That is not the right way to approach a big game,” he revealed.
Pakistan lacked in tactics:
Except for Mohammad Amir, Pakistan bowlers struggled to make good use of conditions at the Old Trafford early on. Tendulkar opined that Pakistan bowlers bowled over the wicket when the ball didn’t do much.
Tendulkar said Riaz made up his mind, but it turned out to be too late for Pakistan when he got KL Rahul’s wicket following a warning on landing onto the danger zone from straight umpire Marais Erasmus.
However, Tendulkar noticed that Hasan Ali, who went for plenty, has got zip from the Old Trafford surface. He added he would have asked them to change their tactics while adding it didn’t seem India was losing a wicket anytime soon.
“If the ball is not moving around much, you don’t continue bowling over the wicket. Wahab (Riaz) went around the wicket but it was too late by then. Hassan (Ali) was the only guy to get the ball to move off the surface. I would have told them to change the angle and do something different. I never thought we were going to lose a wicket,” Tendulkar concluded.
India leads 7-0 at the ICC World Cup:
Earlier, Pakistan skipper won the toss and opted to field first. However, Rohit Sharma alongside KL Rahul battered Pakistan bowlers to post 136-run stand for the opening wicket. The prolific run-getter Rohit went on to slam his third World Cup hundred and overall 24th of his ODI career. He faced 113 balls for his brilliant 140.
On the other side, Rahul scored 57, whereas, skipper Virat Kohli ends up with well-made 77 off just 65 deliveries.
At the end, Vijay Shankar alongside, Kedar Jadhav helped India to post a formidable total of 336 for five in 50 allotted overs.
In response, Pakistan had a shaky start. At the score of 13, Shankar dismissed Imam-ul-Haq on his very first ball of the World Cup event. However, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam stitched 100-plus stand to give Pakistan a ray of hope. But what unfolded described Pakistan’s cricket what they often end up on.
Mercurial Pakistan collapsed with Kuldeep Yadav claimed two quick wickets to tighten the screws. Besides, Hardik Pandya made things far worse for Pakistan by removing Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik in two successive balls.
Following a rain, the delayed start forced the equation to come down to 136 runs required off 30 balls. In the end, Pakistan managed 212 for six on board in 40 overs, as India clinched the game on Duckworth Lewis Method — to move to the second position of the points table with seven points in four games.
Now, India will face Afghanistan on June 22 in Southampton after gaining seven points in four matches.