da imperador bet： Pakistan captain Waqar Younis brushed aside speculations that therewas disharmony among the players saying his team lost because itplayed poorly
11-Mar-2002Pakistan captain Waqar Younis brushed aside speculations that therewas disharmony among the players saying his team lost because itplayed poorly.”There is no disharmony in the team neither am I at odds with theselectors over the selection of the team,” Waqar said in a post-matchconference while trying to put up a brave face.”We can’t decide by one defeat that the team is not united. I wouldsay the team selected for the match was a unanimous decision and theplayers did support me,” he said, while stressing that the defeat wasa result of bad cricket his team played throughout the match.”I am pretty satisfied with the cooperation of my players. Winning andlosing is part of the game,” he repeated.There is disagreement amongst the team management and the captain overthe exclusion of Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq for the Asian TestChampionship final.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to investigate reasons for thedefeat and if there is any truth in the reports of disharmony.Waqar blamed his batsmen and bowlers for not putting up a decentperformance. “The batsmen didn’t hang in there and failed to buildpartnerships by losing wicket oneafter another. I think we should havescored 350 to 400 on this track. “Then the bowlers bowled at bothsides of the wicket. I think if we had bowled properly, we would havenot missed any bowler,” he said, referring to controversial exclusionof Wasim and Saqlain, adding: “We spilled chances at crucial stages ofthe game.”Waqar said one-off Test was always difficult and added that his teamhad not been playing enough cricket at home to prepare a winningcombination. “The series against New Zealand and Australia willprovide us a better chance to prepare and bounce back after a poorshow since they would be full series.”The Pakistan captain said although it was disappointing to lose theTest, plus points can be picked from the game. “I think the best thingthat happened was the return to form of Inzamam-ul-Haq who had a leanperiod lately. Then I think Shoaib Malik showed a lot of character anddiscipline by hanging in there.”Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar, when asked where the team would go fromhere particularly after losing sixth Test in 14 Tests at home, said:”We will go to Sharjah and I think we are fortunate to go straightthere since it is a happy hunting ground for us. We are happy to begoing where we are strong.”The former Test opener defended Shahid Afridi and Yousuf Youhana underthose conditions.”I must commend Shahid Afridi for playing a sensible and responsibleinnings despite being an aggressive batsman. He made one error andpaid the price. “As regards Yousuf, his most productive area isbetween mid-on and mid-wicket. But I think he was foxed by MuttiahMuralitharan when he attempted a similar shot off a delivery thatstayed straight.”Mudassar admitted that he was concerned with the openers problem butruled out sweeping changes in the team for Sharjah.Waqar and Mudassar were unanimous in saying that Saeed Anwar’s absencewas badly felt as he was a class act and when firing all guns blazing,the bowlers run for cover.Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya said he was glad that his teamkept the momentum going by winning nine Tests in a row.”The players did what was expected of them and I am happy that theyare realizing their responsibilities. “The plus point of my team isthat they have the ability to adjust to the conditions quickly whichis so vital to the outcome of the team and performance.”Jayasuriya said the victory was a morale-booster for the team thatmakes its first-ever full tour to England this summer. He attributedthe success to a team effort but singled out Kumar Sangakkara andMuttiah Muralitharan for their performance. “It is always essential topost a big total to pressurize the opponents. I think we did exactlythat.”He said days when Sri Lankan batting was the strong point of his teamwere gone. “I think we are as formidable and penetrative in bowling asin our batting.”