Cricket: Pacers a concern for Pakistan captain Hafeez – The Express Tribune

PALLEKELE, SRI LANKA: Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez admitted his faltering pace bowlers were a concern ahead of the Super Eights round where big teams can capitalise on their weakness.

Pakistan thumped Bangladesh by eight wickets in Pallekele on Tuesday, with Imran Nazir hitting a career best 72 as Pakistan comfortably chased down a 176-run target with eight balls to spare in the group D match.

But they head into the next round with a question mark on their pace bowlers, with experienced Umar Gul conceding 43 off his three overs and Sohail Tanveer going for 25 in his three.

Pakistan faces explosive matches against formidable South Africa (Friday), arch-rivals India (Sunday) and Australia (Tuesday) in Colombo, and Hafeez said their fast bowling needed a lift.

“Yes, there is a bit of concern as a captain. Our fast bowlers are not producing in the manner that they can,” Hafeez said after the match. “We expect Colombo pitch to turn a bit more, these pitches (here) were slightly different.”

Gul, joint second wicket-taker with team-mate Shahid Afridi with 60, went for 39 in his three overs during Pakistan’s 13-run win over New Zealand in the first game.

Hafeez said he believed Gul will stage a comeback quickly.

“Gul is a good bowler and has bowled well in limited overs cricket, so I hope he will improve in the next matches,” said Hafeez, who promised no let-up in the next round.

“We know that every team can beat anyone else in T20. We aren’t going to relax even a little bit. We know we have to work hard,” said Hafeez, who praised a complete team effort in all matches.

“The best thing is that whatever role we assign to players they’re putting in maximum effort to do the job. All 15 in our squad are match winners and this team is united in trying to do the best for Pakistan,” said Hafeez.

Pakistan finished runners-up to India in the inaugural World Twenty20 held in South Africa in 2007 before winning the next, held in England two years later.

They were losing semi-finalists in the last World Twenty20 held in the Caribbean in 2010.

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My Blog: http://www.sohnidhurti.com

drop either umar gul or sohail tanveer, bring abdul razakh and keep yasir arafat on other hand. 2 pacers will be enough..no need to have 3rd pacer and please no sami..he forget how to ball in international game lol.

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Problem with tanvir is he been getting early breakthrough, he always been expensive, the pitch in colombo will assist spin and gul wasn't bad against kiwis, lets have some perspective, granted gul was awful, but pitch was absoluetly flat even ajmal went 8 an over not to mention hafeez. I think was one of those days

If we to drop i would say razzaq to come in for tanvir, cuz arafat is relatively better field and bat compare to tanvir.

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My Blog: http://www.sohnidhurti.com

In all honesty and seriousness. I would rather bring back Rana Naveed ul hassan. and pick him over Tanvir or Gull anyday looking at their current forms.
ATLEAST the guy can swing and can bat aswell. Plus playing county he has gotten one heck of pro in it. I love his slower balls.

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Four apples have changed the world. One seduced Eve, one awakened Newton, the third one was in the hands of Steve Jobs and the fourth one was declared a banana by Rehman Malik.

kick hafeez

We definitely need Gul as he's experienced, arafat or Abdul Razzaq both are the same. They just need a bit of time to click.
Forget Sami by the way.

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“Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees”

Shud hav selected junaid for sami.but i think gul will b alright

Gul's the man!!

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“Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees”