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Journalism of Courage
Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik (picture right) has drawn flak from former players for his ignorance about the bowl-out rule in Twenty20 World Cup.
Pakistan had lost their Group D match against arch-rivals India via the bowl-out after the match ended in a tie on Friday. Former captain Javed Miandad said it was strange that Malik and the team management didn’t know about the bowl-out rule in such a crucial match.
“One fails to understand what sort of homework was done for this game which was followed so intensely by millions back home,” said Miandad.
Former captain Intikhab Alam also said it was sad on the part of the team management. “It is not a good commentary on Pakistan cricket when your captain admits his players were not accepting the match against India to be decided by this new rule,” Intikhab said.
He also said that sending Afridi lower down the batting order was under-utilisation of his talent. “What purpose was served by sending him in with just three overs left. This is something only the captain and coach can best explain. But I would prefer to see Afridi’s batting skills being used higher in this form of the game,” he said.
Former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir also supported a promotion for Afridi in the batting order saying had Afridi been sent earlier in the game against India there would have been less pressure in the final two overs.
“Understandably, the situation put Afridi under pressure and he got out trying to lash out at the bowlers,” Qadir said. Intikhab and Qadir also suggested that Afridi could be used as an opener in the Super eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup, considering the fact that Imran Nazir and Salman Butt were struggling for form.
Former skipper Rameez Raja also hit out at Malik saying he didn’t understand the logic of using pace bowlers for the bowl-out out against India when the slow bowlers could have been a better bet to win the match. “I think the Indians showed more sense by using their spinners while I just couldn’t comprehend what our team was doing,” Rameez said.
He said just stating the team was not prepared for the bowl-out was no excuse for any international team.
