PAKvENG finale: Anyone can win, say Miandad and Yasir
Batting legend Javed Miandad and former ace batter Yasir Hameed believe it is impossible to predict who will take the seven-match series when Pakistan host England in the seventh and last T20I of the historic series.
Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will be buzzing on Sunday when Babar Azam’s charges take on Moeen Ali and co, with the series evenly poised at 3-3.
England opened the series with a thumping win, but Babar and keeper-batter Rizwan levelled it with a 10-wicket win, only to lose the third T20I chasing. However, Pakistani bowlers joined the party as they gave the hosts a 3-2 advantage by defending two average totals on the trot.
England, on Friday, dismissed all concerns regarding their batting through a hitting masterclass against Pakistan, reaching a 170-run target with more than five overs to spare, and sending the series into a much-deserved final.
‘Anyone’s game’
With both teams vying for the silverware in a see-saw series, Miandad says it is important for Pakistani players to avail whatever opportunity comes their way.
“No one can predict who’ll win,” said Miandad. “When you get an opportunity you will have to avail it. You have to constantly analyse the game and take decisions.”
Yasir, on the other hand, wants Pakistani match-winners to step up.
“You can’t predict a winner in the T20 format. You just have to see how many match-winners and X-factors you have in your team,” said Yasir.
“England played Salt consistently because he is an X-factor for them. He delivered for them yesterday. For us, we have Asif Ali in that role, but he hasn’t delivered consistently for Pakistan. With his current form, he can win us only five matches out of a 100, which is a low percentage. Asif needs to start delivering consistently for Pakistan.”
Winning mantra
When asked what Pakistan should do to take the series from England, Miandad and Yasir both had a different idea.
“All players will have to look at their individual performances and then they’ll have to come together as a team to deliver too,” said Miandad, emphasising that cricket is both an individual and team game.
“The players need to think of playing for Pakistan first. Once you want to deliver for Pakistan, you will automatically put an extra effort whether you’re bowling, batting or fielding.
“Pakistani players need to realise that they are good that is why they’re in the final eleven. The question of whether you’re good enough shouldn’t be there. You are good, now you just have to deliver what you’ve been asked to do on the day.”
Miandad also says that toss won’t and shouldn’t matter on Sunday.
“Play to your strength. If you believe your bowling can do better, then you should defend a target. If your batting is firing on all cylinders, then go for the chase. It is as simple as that.”
Yasir, meanwhile, believes both batting and bowling can win the match for Pakistan.
“It is going to be a good cricket match. That I can say for sure. But we’ve been delivering both with bat and ball and both are our strength at the moment. So, if both fire on Sunday, the trophy is ours.”
The faults in our stars
Miandad praised Babar for his captaincy during the England series, but he believes if the Pakistani star’s batting is suffering due to the load of captaincy, then it is time he and the PCB sit down and talk.
“Babar is a world-class batsman. But the board should ask him if captaincy is taking a toll on him. There needs to be an honest conversation between him and the board. If he feels he can’t perform with both the bat and lead in the field, then the captaincy shouldn’t stay with him. However, the board should clarify to Babar that he is their preferred choice for captain.”
Yasir believes the team management needs to help batters overcome their demons.
“Shan Masood hasn’t yet delivered as expected. I hope Shan can make a comeback because he has a lot of talent.
“Khushdil Shah takes four to five balls to settle. He can only then start hitting big. Haider Ali has been suffering from lack of self-confidence. They both should talk to Rizwan. Rizwan proved with his consistency that he deserves the number one spot in T20Is. So if Moeen Ali is telling England batters to learn to stay on the crease from Rizwan, then why can’t our players learn from him too.”
-
Google Search tries new tactics for limiting explicit deepfakesDani Alves sentenced to 4.5 years in jail for assault油价开启“8元时代”车主惊呼伤不起广东援疆医生送诊下乡,一天惠及千名群众Giant dualTwitter finally bans white supremacist David DukeFritz to face Paul in bid for backOppo made an Apple Watch clone that can match your 'lewk' to its faceDeceased KMessi grabs late leveller for Miami at Galaxy
下一篇:I used the Pixel 9 Pro XL in the shower — does the screen work when wet as claimed?
- ·味道真系正!怀集食材邂逅顺德厨艺
- ·US commander expects NK to perfect ICBM by end of 2018: lawmaker
- ·Son hurt finger in brawl before Asian Cup loss
- ·How a TikTok ban could work, and what it means for your content
- ·Best tablet deals as of August 27
- ·PM pays respects to late victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery
- ·The most badass Latin phrases
- ·躲查酒驾 司机拖行协警20余米
- ·Families of S. Korean detainees in NK appeal to embassies for support
- ·全国人大代表、阳春“鸡司令”谢汝朋:建议开展联合育种、扶持特色农业
- ·Immobile hands Lazio UCL advantage over troubled Bayern
- ·Israeli swimmer booed at world swim championships
- ·Pakistan to host South Africa before ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
- ·Bayern turn focus to Lazio after Leverkusen humbling
- ·Thompson downs Ruud to win maiden ATP crown
- ·Moon urges variety in education, reduced burden on students
- ·夏凤俭与四川建安工业有限责任公司董事长耿海波座谈
- ·China, India seal Asian badminton team titles
- ·U.S. government urges immediate recall of airbag inflators across automakers
- ·全国人大代表、阳春“鸡司令”谢汝朋:建议开展联合育种、扶持特色农业
- ·GPU Mining is Dead, Where are my Cheap GPUs?
- ·Martin Shkreli can't get a fair jury because everyone thinks he's an evil man snake
- ·'A mistake': Leipzig rue disallowed goal in Madrid loss
- ·Lawmakers propose resolution to scrap Korea
- ·How do you make safe, cheap nuclear reactors? Bury them a mile deep
- ·Moon urges variety in education, reduced burden on students
- ·The Best AMD Ryzen Gaming Laptops (So Far)
- ·Osaka beats Garcia in Qatar to avenge AO loss
- ·US rookie Knapp fires 63 to grab lead at PGA Mexico Open
- ·[Weekender] Kids go wild in ‘infant forests’
- ·Alcaraz vs. Van de Zandschulp 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free
- ·'NK promises to destroy all uranium enrichment facilities'
- ·'A mistake': Leipzig rue disallowed goal in Madrid loss
- ·Pochettino hits back at bottle job jibe
- ·Microwave technique recovers 87% of batteries' lithium in 15 minutes
- ·US nuclear envoy calls summit prep talks with North Korea 'productive'