Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq showered praise on Suryakumar Yadav after India registered a thrilling five-wicket win against Salman Agha’s team in the Asia Cup final at Dubai on Sunday. The former right-hander praised SKY for holding back Kuldeep Yadav’s overs.
Kuldeep proved expensive in his first two overs, conceding a total of 23 runs. However, he bounced back strongly in his last two overs, taking 4-7 and thus finishing with 4-30. The wrist spinner took three wickets in his final over and conceded a solitary run.
Misbah-ul-Haq said SKY knew the ball was hard during Kuldeep’s opening spell and thus he gave him another chance when the ball became softer and difficult to hit.
Misbah said on Game On Hai of PTV Sports, “Actual turning point was Surya stopping Kuldeep after two overs. His expression was whether he had taken right call or not,” Misbah pointed out. “He had given 29 in first three overs. Last over he gave only 6. Surya used tactics. He knew the ball is new, Sahibzada had hit him for 6 on back foot, Fakhar on front foot off semi new ball. Surya decided to bring him back when ball got a bit older when conditions would get difficult.”
On the other hand, Shoaib Malik called Pakistan’s game awareness as zero after they tried to hit big shots against Kuldeep but perished in the process.
“First two overs you had won battle against him by hitting sixes. But next two overs you were not gonna win battle by hitting 6. You were in a position that even if you scored just 12 off his next two overs and didn’t lose wickets, you would have reached 170. But Pakistan’s game awareness is zero,” Malik added.
Furthermore, former Pakistan gun fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar slammed the team’s coaching and termed it senseless after the loss.
He said, “Pakistan reached the final after playing decent cricket. It’s not a stroke of luck. You know how to reach final, it’s a good team. In their defense, since 1990s, they have made every semi or final. It’s debatable and you can’t be angry that our middle order let us down. Many said we needed Hasan Nawaz today. And a fast bowler was needed today. Pakistan has made serious progress in making finals, but not winning final is. Capitalisation we could not do. You can’t blame the middle order. It is the blame of the management who is not thinking right. Senseless coaching. Sorry for harsh words. We had match winners sitting at home,” he said.
Pakistan will next host South Africa for two Test matches.
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